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Checkpoints in the thymus for the control of autoimmunity: Antigen processing and regulatory T-cells

Antragstellerin Professorin Dr. Eva Tolosa
Fachliche Zuordnung Molekulare Biologie und Physiologie von Nerven- und Gliazellen
Förderung Förderung von 2004 bis 2007
Projektkennung Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 5443925
 
Using myasthenia gravis (MG) and multiple sclerosis (MS) as model autoimmune diseases, this project will tackle two central aspects that affect the development of an autoimmune response: In the first place, we will study how immunogenic and tolerogenic epitopes are generated by the different antigen presenting cells in the human thymus. Taking myelin basic protein (MBP) and acetylcholine receptor (AchR) subunit polypeptides as model autoantigens and tetanus toxin (TT) as a foreign antigen, we will evaluate the proteolytic capabilities of thymic epithelial and dendritic cells, analyzing the fate of the most immunodominant epitopes for these antigens. On the other hand, we will study the mechanisms that fail to control autoreactive T cells which have escaped central tolerance. For this, we will evaluate the frequency, dynamics and function of T regulatory cells in patients with neurological autoimmune diseases.
DFG-Verfahren Sachbeihilfen
Beteiligte Person Professor Dr. Arthur Melms
 
 

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