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Project

Fatty acid metabolism in control of the phenotype in phagocytes in MS lesions (R-7402)

Monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) play a key role in the pathogenesis of MS. Until recently, these myeloid cells were believed to promote neuroinflammation, demyelination, and neurodegeneration. However, recent studies have reported that MDMs can also have beneficial functions in MS as myelin uptake skews these cells towards a more wound healing phenotype. Strikingly, our preliminary data suggest that prolonged myelin internalization reshapes the MDMs to a more inflammatory phenotype. The exact mechanism underlying this inflammatory phenotype switch remains unclear, but our preliminary data indicate that an enzyme involved in fatty acid metabolism plays an important role. In this project, I will elucidate how this enzyme is involved in directing the functional phenotype of myelin-loaded macrophages and discover new targets for the development of therapeutic strategies that can diminish neuroinflammation and improve tissue repair.
Date:1 Oct 2016 →  30 Sep 2020
Keywords:MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
Disciplines:Immunology, Laboratory medicine, Medical systems biology, Molecular and cell biology