The role of microglia during immunotherapy-induced neuroinflammation (B06)

• Subject Area: Molecular and Cellular Neurology and Neuropathology
• Term: since 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 259373024

We found that immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy causes microglia activation, CNS T cellinfiltration and neurocognitive impairment in mice. We plan to characterize the distinctsignaling/transcriptional events in microglia of mice treated with ICB. Using genetic loss-of-functionapproaches in microglia we will clarify if certain molecules contribute or inhibit ICB-inducedneuroinflammation. The results will be the basis for approaches targeting the newly identifiedpathways that will be also validated on human CNS autopsy samples. This study characterizes therole of microglia in tumor-immunotherapy-induced neuroinflammation.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 167: Development, function and potential of myeloid cells in the central nervous system (NeuroMac)
• Applicant Institution: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Robert Zeiser