Macrophages have been known for more than a century as phagocytic cells of the immune system responsible for the elimination of pathogens. Recent research, however, identified that macrophages are composed of highly heterogeneous populations of cells of different origins, and that they exert a multitude of functions in homeostatic and in disease conditions, including pro- and anti-tumor immunity.
We are combining profiling of human tumors and advanced humanized mouse modeling to reveal the heterogeneity of human tumor-associated macrophages, determine how they develop and how they impact tumor growth and anti-tumor immunity.
The humanized MISTRG mouse model provides an experimental system that recapitulates macrophage diversity with remarkable precision and allows us to study their fundamental biology in vivo.
Our ultimate goal is to develop novel macrophage-targeting therapeutic strategies that would eliminate the tumor-supportive activities of macrophages, while enhancing their anti-tumor properties.
Selected Publication
An in vivo model of human macrophages in metastatic melanoma. V. Voillet, T.R. Berger, K.M. McKenna, K.G. Paulson, W.H. Tan, K.S. Smythe, D.S. Hunter, W.J. Valente, S. Weaver, J.S. Campbell, T.S. Kim, D.R. Byrd, J.H. Bielas, R.H. Pierce, A.G. Chapuis, R. Gottardo, A. Rongvaux. Journal of Immunology. 2022. 209(3):606-20.
Development and function of human innate immune cells in a humanized mouse model. A. Rongvaux, Tim Willinger, J. Martinek, T. Strowig, S.V. Gearty, L.L. Teichmann, Y. Saito, F. Marches, S. Halene, A.K. Palucka, M.G. Manz, R.A. Flavell. 2014. Nature Biotechnology. 32(4):364-72.