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Talk by Thomas Röder

Title: "How ageing, diet and inflammation affect stem cell fate"
Occasion: SFB SpecialSeminar
Start: 06.03.2025 4:15 pm
Location: CellNanOs, 38/201

About the speaker: Prof. Dr. Thomas Röder conducts research at the Zoological Institute, Molecular Physiology at the Christian-Albrechts-University in Kiel.

Stem or progenitor cells play a critical role in maintaining homeostasis and supporting the development of organ systems. This is especially true for systems like the intestine and lungs, which are constantly exposed to environmental factors and must continually regenerate cells. In our research, we focus on intestinal stem cells and the progenitor cells of the adult tracheal system in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. We aim to investigate how aging, nutritional influences, and chronic inflammation affect these stem and progenitor cells, as well as the overall functioning of the respective organs. We are examining intestinal stem cells to understand how aging and nutrition impact their ability to maintain organ homeostasis. Additionally, we have studied the effects of chronic immune responses on the precursor cells of the adult tracheal system, which fully develop from these larval precursor cells during metamorphosis. Our goal is to elucidate the consequences of chronic inflammation, which can lead to both apoptosis and proliferation in these cells, and to identify the underlying signaling pathways involved.