The role of natural killer cells (NK) in the immunoregulation of multiple sclerosis (MS)

• Applicant: Dr. Catharina C. Groß
• Subject Area: Molecular and Cellular Neurology and Neuropathology
• Term: from 2013 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 230134477

Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes of the innate immune system that play an important role in host defense, immune regulation, and autoimmunity. Humans harbor two functionally distinct NK cell subsets exerting either predominantly cytolytic (CD56dimCD16+) or immunoregulatory (CD56brightCD16dim/-) functions. An immunomodulatory role of particular the CD56brightCD16dim/- subset has been proposed in multiple sclerosis (MS), a predominantly CD4+ and CD8+ T cell mediated autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS). The overall goal of this grant is to understand the regulatory function of NK cells in the course of disease. Our aims are to (i) determine the phenotype and functional capacity of CNS-resident or derived NK cells in MS and controls, (ii) investigate which different NK cells subpopulations suppress T cell mediated immune responses and if those mechanisms are impaired in MS, and (iii) study the mode of action of an immunomodulatory drug (Daclizumab) that is momentarily successful tested in a phase III clinical trial.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Heinz Wiendl