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Project

A single cell multi-omics approach to identify novel MS-associated cytotoxic CD4+ T cells (R-11874)

Cytotoxic CD4+ T cells (CD4 CTL) are a subset of immune cells that have been shown to contribute to disease progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. This immune cell subset is not present in all individuals, but develops due to chronic antigenic stimulation. These cells are therefore commonly found in aged individuals, persons with latent viral infections, and patients suffering from autoimmune diseases. How these cells exactly develop remains unclear, but our work and existing literature suggests that the manner in which CD4 CTL develop dictates their phenotype. As CD4 CTL in general are only present in small absolute numbers, isolating sufficient cells to study their phenotype and function can be challenging. Recently developed techniques focused on analysis of single cells make it possible to study even rare cells like CD4 CTL in great detail. This project focuses on using these techniques to study CD4 CTL, by combining genetic information with information about the function of the cell. Our aim is to determine whether differences exist between CD4 CTL induced under different circumstances, by comparing cells derived from MS patients with cells derived from healthy donors. This project will expand our knowledge on the development, subsets and function of CD4 CTL in different micro-environments, and hopefully provide novel targets for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of progression of MS.
Date:1 Jul 2021 →  31 Mar 2022
Keywords:CD4 CTL, immunology, T helper cells
Disciplines:Neurological and neuromuscular diseases, Autoimmunity