Interaction of glial and CNS infiltrating immune cells in the recovery from acute inflammatory and hypoxic tissue damage in the CNS (B04)

• Subject Area: Clinical Neurology; Neurosurgery and Neuroradiology
• Term: from 2020 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 408885537

After acute lesions in the CNS, the interaction of microglia with astrocytes and infiltrating immune cells controls resolution or chronification of tissue damage. While inflammatory conditions induce tissue-destructive VEGF-B in microglia, a hypoxic microenvironment promotes regenerative TGF-α via inhibition or activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), respectively. Thus, the AHR / VEGF-B / TGF- alpha axis represents a novel checkpoint of lesion reversibility. Here, we will study this checkpoint in inflammatory and hypoxic CNS diseases and evaluate its potential as a therapeutic target and biomarker in Multiple Sclerosis and ischemic stroke.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 274: Checkpoints of Central Nervous System Recovery
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität München (TUM)
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Veit Rothhammer