IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-Immunometabolic mechanisms of resolution in pulmonary and vascular injury

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The speaker described how inflammation resolution depends on apoptotic cell clearance, or aphrocytosis, and how this process becomes dysregulated in vascular disease and lung transplant injury. In abdominal aortic aneurysm, single-cell RNA sequencing of human tissue showed altered phagocytosis and autophagy genes in endothelial cells, with reduced MERTK expression. Mouse models confirmed that endothelial-cell MERTK and endothelial aphrocytosis decrease during peak inflammation and return during resolution. Importantly, endothelial cells could ingest apoptotic smooth muscle cells, and deleting MERTK specifically in endothelial cells worsened aneurysm size and impaired resolution. These cells also influenced macrophage phagocytic function through paracrine signaling.<br /><br />The talk then shifted to lung ischemia-reperfusion injury and transplant rejection, where the speaker identified monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) as another non-professional phagocyte involved in resolution. These cells accumulate during recovery, ingest apoptotic neutrophils in a MERTK-dependent manner, and improve outcomes when transferred into mice. Loss of C/EBPβ or MERTK impaired this resolution process.<br /><br />The speaker also emphasized pro-resolving mediators such as protectin D1 and resolvin D1, which enhance aphrocytosis and reduce inflammation. Finally, metabolomic studies suggest that lipid and glucose pathway changes may shape these immune-resolution programs in both aneurysm and lung transplant settings.

Meta Tag

Date April 19, 2026 10:37 AM - 11:15 AM

Room Ballroom

Session Major Symposium H: Resolution of Inflammation

Speaker Ashish Sharma

Track Cellular Adhesion, Migration, and Inflammation (CAM)

Year 2026

Keywords

aphrocytosis

MERTK

inflammation resolution

abdominal aortic aneurysm

endothelial cells

myeloid-derived suppressor cells

pro-resolving mediators

April 19, 2026 10:37 AM - 11:15 AM

Ballroom

Major Symposium H: Resolution of Inflammation

Ashish Sharma

Cellular Adhesion, Migration, and Inflammation (CAM)

2026