Research interests
Our laboratory study two basic aspects of innate immunity mechanisms:
1. Activation of inflammasome and pro-inflammatory cytokines in response to danger signalsduring the initial phase of inflammation.
Danger signals are endogenous host molecules that are not in place, such signals include the presence of ATP in the extracellular space. Extracellular ATP is recognized by P2X7 receptor activation in macrophages activating the release of mature interleukin (IL)-1 through caspase-1 activation. Caspase-1 activation is dependent on the assembly of an intracellular protein platform termed the inflammasome, which is formed by a NLR receptor that is responsible for detecting such danger signals.
We are studying the involvement of inflammasome activation by extracellular ATP signaling in different diseases, this pathwayis emerging as the responsible for sterile inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis. This concept of danger signals activating the immune system could be the origin of the complex cytokine network that orchestrates the inflammatory response.
2. Mechanisms involved in the resolution of the inflammation.
Alternativeactivated macrophages are critical to the resolution of inflammation. We are interested in the actions of P2X7 receptors on these macrophages and the basic mechanisms by which macrophages switch from pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory phenotypes. We study the role of extracellular ATP signaling and metabolism over a dynamic macrophage polarity gradient from pro-inflammatory through anti-inflammatory phenotypes. We find new mechanism to promote inflammatory resolution to chronic inflammatory diseases.
Teaching activities
Erasmus Mundus Design Measures Project
Joint programme at Master level in the field of Inflammation, Cancer and Immunotherapy (ICI) with the University of Murcia (Spain, Coordinator), University of Rouen Normandy (France) and University of Ferrara (Italy).
ERASMUS-EDU-2022-EMJM-DESIGN, grant agreement #101081900
Undergraduate Immunology teacher
Faculty of Medicine at University of Murcia
Principal investigator
Pablo Pelegrín
Principal Investigator, Molecular Inflammation Research Group, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), Murcia, Spain
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology B and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Spain
Contact details:
LAIB Building - 4th floor (office 4.15)
Carretera Buenavista s/n
30120 El Palmar, Murcia, Sapin
Telephone +34 868 885038
e-mail pablo.pelegrin@ffis.es
Brief Pelegrín's CV
2019 –2024 Beatriz Galindo Researcher, University of Murcia, Spain
2009 – 2019 Principal Researcher, Foundation Biomedical Research of Murcia, Spain
2007 – 2009 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Faculty of Life Science, University of Manchester, UK
2004 – 2007 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, UK
2003 – 2004 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Cell Biology, University of Murcia, Spain
2003 Ph.D. Developmental immunology - University of Murcia, Spain
1999 M.Phil. Developmental immunology - University of Murcia, Spain
1999 B.Sc. (Hons) - University of Murcia, Spain