Sodium as factor controlling the threshold of autoimmune arthritis

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Martin Herrmann, since 7/2022
• Subject Area: Rheumatology
• Term: from 2019 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 405969122

Sodium concentration in the extracellular milieu reportedly affects key aspects of both the innate and the adaptive immune response. However, a potential role of sodium and tissue tonicity during induction of autoimmunity and inflammation in experimental arthritis and human rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is still elusive. We have shown that feeding high salt diet increases skin tonicity in mice and simultaneously fosters both pathogen-triggered inflammation as well as sterile inflammatory processes such as zymosan-induced arthritis. Although underlying molecular mechanisms are still incompletely understood, p38-dependent activation of NFAT5/TonEBP/OREBP and altered transcription of osmo-protective genes are likely to be cardinally involved. The aim of this proposal is to analyze the role of tissue tonicity in the induction and onset of the inflammatory response in arthritis, where we will mechanistically focus on its impact on neutrophils and neutrophil extracellular trap formation and aggregation.

• DFG Programme: Research Units
• Subproject of: FOR 2886: PANDORA - Pathways triggering AutoimmuNity and Defining Onset of early Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Professor Dr. Jens Marc Titze, until 6/2022