Nanobody-based treatment strategies in glomerulonephritis (B05)

• Subject Area: Immunology
• Term: since 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 264599542

In this project we aim to develop and evaluate strategies to treat antibody-mediated diseases of the kidney – particularly membranous nephropathy and anti-GBM disease – on multiple new levels: 1.) Blocking of autoantibody binding to kidney autoantigens using target-specific nanobodies generated e.g. in a llama IgH transgenic mouse line. 2.) Engineering of heavy chain antibodies containing antigen extracellular domains for the specific elimination of antigen-specific autoantibodies (through Fc-receptor-mediated uptake and degradation of immune complexes) and autoantibody-producing B cells (through their specific B cell receptors). 3.) Gene delivery and knockdown using adeno-associated viral vectors (AAVs) displaying nanobodies against cell-specific surface molecules to control local disease processes.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1192: Immune-Mediated Glomerular Diseases - Basic Concepts and Clinical Implications -
• Applicant Institution: Universität Hamburg
• Project Heads: Dr. Nicola Tomas; Dr. Nicola Wanner