Spatiotemporal effects of IL-4 and designed novel compounds on CNS repair during neuroinflammation (B15*)

• Subject Area: Clinical Neurology; Neurosurgery and Neuroradiology
• Term: from 2021 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 213904703

Nervous tissue regeneration is still an unmet need in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Our latest discovery of a direct neuronal interleukin-4 (IL-4) receptor signalling pathway, leading to axonal protection and repair during chronic neuroinflammation, set the stage for this proposal. We plan to unravel the endogenous source and novel functions of IL-4 and develop our discovery for transfer into the clinic. We designed novel compounds, which we would like to test in different MS models, compare and combine with other treatments, and study in human culture systems to directly unravel regenerative effects on human neurons and test blood brain barrier permeability. The aim is that results from these investigations lead to novel insights into neuroprotection and -regeneration and to clinical translation of our compounds.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 128: Initiating/Effector versus Regulatory Mechanisms in Multiple Sclerosis - Progress towards Tackling the Disease
• Applicant Institution: Universität Münster
• Project Heads: Christina Francisca Vogelaar, Ph.D.; Professorin Dr. Frauke Zipp