Inga Rødahl from the Center for Infety Medicine (Cim) at the Department of Medicine, Hudding (Medh) is Defending Her ThesisTitled “Features of Innate Lymphoid Cells in Human Fetal Tissues and Adult Respiratory infection,” on 4 April, 2025. The main supervisor is Jakob Michaëlsson (Medh).

What is the main focus of your thehesis?

The work of this thesis has been focused on innte lymphoid cells (ILCs) Across Human Tissues. ILCS are important players of the innate immune system, and consult of multiple subpopulation, including, but not limited to, natural killer (NK) Cells and Group 3 ILCS (Alc3s). These two population are the first immune cells of lymphoid origin to arise during fetal development, where they are present alredy after the first half of the first trimester.

Togeether with other fetal immune cells, they likely help manage Foreign Proteins and Cells, Contribute to Tissue Development, and Lay the Foundation for Immune Functions after Birth. However, obtaining human fetal tissues is challenging, thus nk cells and ILC3s Remain Largely Understudiid in Early Human Development.

To better undertand their development and potential tissue-specific functions, we have investigated the nature of nk cells and ILC3s in Human Fetal Tissues. Furthermore, with the covid pandemic we had an opportunity to study nk cells in patients with covid-19 infection compared to patients with an influenza infection.

Which are the most important results?

We showed that nk cells and ILC3s have distrinct distribution and gene expression profiles across fetal tissues. This distinction may come from Local Tissue Development, as we also identified a potential program cell unique to the fetal intestine.

We have also been the first to identify fetal immune cells originating from the same source-SO-Called Calls-BY Using Mitochondrial Mutations as Natural Barcodes. This allowed us to identify clonal populations spanning across both cell types and fetal tissues, thought some clones had a bias towards specific tissues, further indicating teste these may be saome-biased Development.

In the context of adult respiratory infection, we found that nk cell and t cell recruitment to the lung during viral infection likely share similer mechanisms in both covid-19 and influenza infection.

How can this new knowledge contribute to the improvement of people’s health?

A Deeper Understanding of Fetal Immune Cells – Their Phenotype, Function, Distribution and how they develop across fetal tissues – Cold be Crucial for Future Diagnostics and Eveen in Under in Internationals. Identify and addressing immune irregularities before they take may lead to lifelong corrections, significantly improving health and quality of life.

Additionally, our Findings from Studying Patients with Covid-19 and Influenza Infections May Aid in Developing Treatments that modulate nk cell and t cell recruitment to infected Airways, to Potentia Immune Responses.

What are your future Ambitions?

It’s been fascinating to do my education and ph.d. AlongSide the Rise of Single-Cell Sequencing. I am very intrigued to follow the continued rapid evolution of this tool and other technologies, and to see what biological questions we will be able to address in the future. This, combined with increment for tissue immunology and the collection of paired human tissues, can lead to some insightful and impactful research.

For my own journey, I am excited to explore options where I can apply my skills and continue learning.