The Role of B cells and Tph cells in Progressive MS

Start Term
End Term
Funding Amount
$88,911
Affiliation(s)
Laval University
Geographic Region(s) / Province(s)
Quebec
Researcher(s)
Dr. Manu Rangachari
Research Priorities
Progressive MS
Impact Goal(s)
Understand and Halt Disease Progression

Summary:  

  • There is an urgent need to better understand and treat progressive forms of MS. 

  • Dr. Manu Rangachari and team will study how certain immune cells (B cells and Tph cells) contribute to MS progression through the production of toxic molecules called reactive oxygen species or free radicals in the central nervous system.  

  • This research will enhance our understanding of the biological mechanisms of progression in MS and inform the development of more effective treatments in the future.  

Project Description:  

While much progress has been made in the MS field, one of the greatest remaining unmet needs is a better understanding of disease progression to inform effective treatment strategies for progressive forms of MS. In this study, Dr. Manu Rangachari and team will examine how immune cells, specifically B cells and Tph cells, contribute to MS progression. They hypothesize that B cells and Tph cells work together to produce toxic reactive oxygen species or free radicals, which are unstable molecules that cause damage to the central nervous system. 

The researchers will: 1) identify which type of B cells and Tph cells within the central nervous system are capable of producing toxic free radicals, 2) study the mechanisms by which B cells and Tph cells interact with one another to create free radicals, and 3) confirm if production of free radicals worsens progression in mice with MS-like disease. In collaboration with the HITMS biobank in Newfoundland, they will also analyze human spinal fluid samples to determine if markers of free radical damage are increased in people with progressive MS and whether these could be used as a marker of progression.

Potential Impact: The findings of this study could reveal new insights on the biological mechanisms and key contributors of disease progression in MS and lay the foundation for the development of more effective treatments in the future.

Project Status: In Progress