Immunology, more particularly T cell-related autoimmunity

• Antragsteller: Dr. Stephan Kissler
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Immunologie
• Förderung: Förderung von 2001 bis 2004
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 5334229

Autoimmune diseases, in which the immune system mistakenly targets the body's own structures, such as in multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus for example, are a relatively frequent occurence. Yet they cannot be fought specifically with drugs available to this date, and most treatments are unsatisfactory and accompanied with many undesirable side effects. T cells, a particular type of white blood cell, play a major role not only in the orchestration of the immune system, but also in the initiation and development of autoimmune diseases. This project aims to increase our knowledge of the processes that initiate and maintain autoimmunity. To this end, a genetically manipulated system will be used. Two different strains of mice expressing transgene-encoded T cell receptors (the essential component on the surface of each T cell which helps recognising antigens, and in the case of autoimmunity, self-antigens) will be studied to understand how the transgenic T cells are normally educated to ignore self-antigens, and under what conditions their state of tolerance against these antigens can be broken to initiate autoimmunity. An increased knowledge of these mechanisms will help develop specific therapies for autoimmune diseases in which only the harmful T cells are targetted, thereby providing effective treatment and few, if any, side effects.

• DFG-Verfahren: Forschungsstipendien