Role of B cells in virus-induced T cell-mediated immunopathology (P03)

• Subject Area: Immunology
• Term: from 2015 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 256073931

B cell-deficient mice succumb to fatal T cell-mediated immunopathology after infection with the LCMV strain Docile, whereas B cell-sufficient mice with a narrowed BCR antigen repertoire develop an asymptomatic virus carrier state. The project aims to define the immunopathological effector mechanisms involved in these two states. The extent of T cell exhaustion in B cell-sufficient and -deficient mice will be compared and the mechanisms by which B cells regulate T cell reactivity will be examined using mice with a B cell-restricted deficiency in IL-10, p35 or CD40. In addition, the system will be used to show that stimulating immunity might be a possibility to prevent immunopathology.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1160: Immune-mediated pathology as a consequence of impaired immune reactions (IMPATH)
• Applicant Institution: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Hanspeter Pircher