The cause of MS is unknown, there is no cure, and the current therapies have limited efficacy. My laboratory focuses on identifying molecules critical to the pathogenicity of encephalitogenic T cells. Since the CNS is an immune-privileged tissue and immunological surveillance is limited, we hypothesize that encephalitogenic T cells express unique molecules that enhance their encephalitogenic capacity and that these molecules may be therapeutic targets for MS. In experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model of MS, myelin-specific Th1 and Th17 can induce disease. However, we also know that not all myelin-specific Th1 and Th17 cells induce disease, suggesting that expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines by myelin-specific T cells is not sufficient to deem a myelin-specific T cell encephalitogenic. In the proposed study, we will identify molecules that distinguish encephalitogenic and non- encephalitogenic myelin-specific Th1 and Th17 cells and analyze the role of these molecules in EAE and MS.
Specific Aim 1 : Identify molecules differentially expressed in encephalitogenic and less-encephalitogenic myelin-specific Th1 cells that contribute to T cell pathogenicity.
Specific Aim 2 : Identify molecules differentially expressed in encephalitogenic and non-encephalitogenic myelin- specific Th17 cells that contribute to T cell pathogenicity. Identification of molecules critical for disease has largely been done by gene knockout studies. However, these studies give limited information on the role of the molecule in disease and many knockout studies have yielded surprising phenotypes. Using differential expression in very specific and closely related T cell populations, we should be able to identify several molecules that are clearly associated with encephalitogenicity and determine molecular pathways that are critical for this process. These molecules would provide targets for the development of new therapeutic agents for MS.

Public Health Relevance

Project Narrative Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated disease that destroys the myelin sheath around axons, resulting in impaired nerve conduction and functional loss. Since the cause of MS is unknown, there is no cure, and current therapies are only partially affective. Approximately 350,000 Americans live with MS and many will become physically handicapped during their lifetime. The current study focuses on identifying unique to the immune cells that damage the myelin, so that new therapeutic agents can be developed for MS and other immune-mediated diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS067441-02
Application #
8097970
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-BDCN-W (03))
Program Officer
Utz, Ursula
Project Start
2010-07-01
Project End
2015-06-30
Budget Start
2011-07-01
Budget End
2012-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$294,230
Indirect Cost
Name
Ohio State University
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
832127323
City
Columbus
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
43210
Lee, Priscilla W; Xin, Matthew K; Pei, Wei et al. (2018) IL-3 Is a Marker of Encephalitogenic T Cells, but Not Essential for CNS Autoimmunity. Front Immunol 9:1255
Lee, Priscilla W; Severin, Mary E; Lovett-Racke, Amy E (2017) TGF-? regulation of encephalitogenic and regulatory T cells in multiple sclerosis. Eur J Immunol 47:446-453
Jukkola, Peter; Gu, Yuanzheng; Lovett-Racke, Amy E et al. (2017) Suppression of Inflammatory Demyelinaton and Axon Degeneration through Inhibiting Kv3 Channels. Front Mol Neurosci 10:344
Lee, Priscilla W; Smith, Alan J; Yang, Yuhong et al. (2017) IL-23R-activated STAT3/STAT4 is essential for Th1/Th17-mediated CNS autoimmunity. JCI Insight 2:
Nuro-Gyina, Patrick K; Rieser, Elizabeth L; Granitto, Marissa C et al. (2016) Regulation of effector function of CNS autoreactive CD4 T cells through inhibitory receptors and IL-7R?. J Neuroinflammation 13:302
Guerau-de-Arellano, Mireia; Liu, Yue; Meisen, Walter H et al. (2015) Analysis of miRNA in Normal Appearing White Matter to Identify Altered CNS Pathways in Multiple Sclerosis. J Autoimmune Disord 1:
Lee, Priscilla W; Yang, Yuhong; Racke, Michael K et al. (2015) Analysis of TGF-?1 and TGF-?3 as regulators of encephalitogenic Th17 cells: Implications for multiple sclerosis. Brain Behav Immun 46:44-9
Yang, Y; Winger, R C; Lee, P W et al. (2015) Impact of suppressing retinoic acid-related orphan receptor gamma t (ROR)?t in ameliorating central nervous system autoimmunity. Clin Exp Immunol 179:108-18
Fenn, Ashley M; Smith, Kristen M; Lovett-Racke, Amy E et al. (2013) Increased micro-RNA 29b in the aged brain correlates with the reduction of insulin-like growth factor-1 and fractalkine ligand. Neurobiol Aging 34:2748-58
Smith, Kristen M; Guerau-de-Arellano, Mireia; Costinean, Stefan et al. (2012) miR-29ab1 deficiency identifies a negative feedback loop controlling Th1 bias that is dysregulated in multiple sclerosis. J Immunol 189:1567-76

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