Immune cell influence on aging of sensory neurons

• Applicant: Dr. Caroline Perner
• Subject Area: Immunology
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 532419713

Chronic low-grade sterile inflammation is a hallmark of aging and has been shown to be associated with functional decline and age-related diseases in different organ systems. However, for the vast majority of age associated diseases, we have little understanding of the functional effect of certain immune cell subsets and their context-specificity. This challenge will be addressed by this proposed research, focusing on pathological aging of the peripheral sensory nervous system and associated symptoms of neuropathy including neuropathic itch and pain. The overarching aim is to determine the impact of immune cells on neuronal function during lifetime and identify mechanism of pathologic neuro-immune – interactions that are drivers of sensory neuron aging. This will advance our understanding of disease-associated transcriptional programs underlying sensory neuron aging and answer questions of sensory neuron function that is shaped by immune cell-environment interactions. For this purpose, we will first study the lifelong in vivo function of murine sensory neurons using behavioral tests for perception followed by transcriptional analysis in the context of different immune cell compositions present. To decipher underlaying interaction pathways we will further analyze expression of cytokines and chemokines from isolated young and aged immune and neuronal cells by flow cytometry. This approach will enable us to decipher the complexity of immune cell driven aging and build a foundation for the discovery of causative treatments for age related peripheral neuropathies.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants