Pro-apoptotic miRNAs in tumor therapy
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are essential for many biological and cellular processes. The aim of the project is to study the biological role of specific miRNAs in programmed cell death (apoptosis). The project is based on a high-throughput screening, which identified unknown miRNAs to induce apoptosis. These miRNAs and their mode of action will be investigated in the context of tumor therapy and biopharmaceutical production.

Macrophages and other cells are able to take up large particles and microorganisms by phagocytosis. Using screening approaches, miRNAs with a regulatory function on phagocytosis of microorganisms by different subpopulations of human primary macrophages will be identified. The underlying mechanisms of these miRNAs will then be further characterized in functional assays.