Chemokines play a role in cellular communication, by guiding immune cells to sites of infection or inflammation. By forming chemokine complexes, binding to sugar molecules (Glycosaminglycans (GAGs)) and/or receptors on specific cells, they function as spatial cues for (immune) cells.
In our lab we try to understand how the different binding partners (receptors, GAGs, etc.) of chemokines - the chemokine network - affect cellular communication. To investigate this, we develop and use different chemical biology tools to study and change the binding interactions of chemokines. In addition, we would like to understand how changes in the chemokine networks affect the communication between cells and the resulting behaviour of those cells.
Ultimately, we hope to use this information to design new drugs that affect the communication of chemokine networks in disease.
For more information, contact r.bosma@vu.nl