Project Details
Projekt
Calcium-dependent T cell activation in multiple sclerosis
Subject Area
Molecular and Cellular Neurology and Neuropathology
Term
from 2015 to 2020
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 262890264
A central tenet of multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis is that T cells primed with recognition of CNS components (autoreactive) drive disease initiation and/or progression. Differential contribution of effector T cell subtypes is well described. Factors leading to a skewed distribution of T cell subtypes or additional factors affecting their MS-pathogenicity are poorly understood. In the proposed work, we aim to investigate the contribution of differential Ca2+ signaling in key processes leading to autoimmune neuronal inflammation. We will compare the Ca2+ phenotypes of effector T subtypes of healthy individuals compared to MS patients, identify ion channels and regulatory proteins underlying these phenotypes and test whether altering Ca2+ signatures can skew subtype affiliation. Using in vitro polarizing conditions, we will generate T cell subtypes to investigate how regulatory mechanisms such as Ca2+ dependent proteases and kinases as well as environmental factors (reactive oxygen species, ROS) can contribute to pathogenesis of MS in a subtype specific manner.
DFG Programme
Research Units
