Esteban-Hoijman22

#FacultySeminar: Visualizing the Dynamics of Epithelial Phagocytosis: From Homeostasis to Defense

Esteban Hoijman Kleinman

Embryonic cell bioimaging group

14/03/2025

13:00-14:00

Aula Blava

Abstract

Phagocytosis by immune cells enables the removal of defective cells and pathogens. Epithelial cells also exhibit phagocytic activity, playing essential roles in various tissues, including the intestine and lungs. Despite its significance in infectious, inflammatory, and degenerative diseases, the dynamics of epithelial phagocytosis in natural environments remain poorly understood due to the challenges of capturing these events in adult tissues. We have identified a highly efficient epithelial tissue for phagocytic clearance in early zebrafish, mouse, and human embryos. Quantitative live imaging reveals the dynamics of this process across biological scales, from molecular interactions to tissue patterns. Our findings suggest that this epithelium maintains homeostasis and provides defense against infections in early embryos before the immune system is established
Hosted by Alessandra Giorgetti –  Hematopoietic Stem Cell Biology & Leukemogenesis group

Short Bio

Esteban Hoijman obtained his PhD from the University of Buenos Aires. After a research stay at the Hubrecht Institute in the Netherlands, he conducted two postdoctoral periods at Pompeu Fabra University and the Centre for Genomic Regulation in Barcelona. In 2021, he was appointed a Serra Húnter Lecturer at the University of Barcelona, and in 2022, he became a Group Leader at IDIBELL. In 2024, he joined the Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (Spanish Research Council) as a tenured scientist. He has made significant contributions to the study of cell dynamics in live embryos, including publications in Nature Communications (2015) and Nature (2021).

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