Inflammation and Immunity
The Keppler lab is embedded in the Division of Rheumatology and Immunology at the Medical University of Graz, and focuses on translational immunology, working at the interface between basic research and clinical practice. We are particularly interested in cell-cell and cell-niche interactions the interplay between tissue niches, metabolism and immune cells during health and disease. To address these questions, we employ in vitro culture systems of immune cells (human and mouse), adipocyte spheroid cultures, diverse co-culture systems as well as preclinical models of autoimmune diseases. To analyse cell-cell interactions during inflammation, we further improve immunological state-of-the-art single-cell analysis methods like advanced multi-colour flow cytometry and mass cytometry (CyTOF) but also modern imaging techniques like whole organ imaging (using our EMOVI protocol) and image cytometry. We furthermore established collaborations with physicists and microscopists to develop new approaches in order to achieve a more systemic analysis of autoimmune disorders.
More specifically, current and future studies of the Keppler lab aim at elucidating the role of B cells and plasma cells as modulators of the inflammatory niche during autoimmunity.
For more details on our research projects, please visit our Research projects tab!
For more details on imaging please visit our Imaging tab!