Targeting immunological networks to promote recovery in childhood-onset white matter diseases (B02)

• Subject Area: Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine
• Term: since 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 408885537

Childhood-onset white matter diseases including multiple sclerosis and monogenetic leukoencephalopathies, are characterized by neuroinflammatory tissue damage. Here, we propose that CD8+ T cell phenotypes within lesions serve as critical immune checkpoints for tissue damage and regeneration. Our objective is to define CD8+ T cell-driven disease and regenerative pathways by utilizing a combination of multifluorescent immunohistochemistry, spatial transcriptomics and multimodal MR imaging in patients and preclinical models. We expect to identify common CD8+ T cell driven inflammatory mechanisms for these diseases and thus to pave the way for novel therapeutic approaches.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 274: Checkpoints of Central Nervous System Recovery
• Applicant Institution: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Wolfgang Brück, until 12/2023; Professorin Dr. Jutta Gärtner; Dr. Stefan Nessler, since 1/2024