Title:	Learning from nature. Immune regulation in tolerance (pregnancy) and chronic inflammation (multiple sclerosis)
DNr:	LiU-2019-8
Project Type:	LiU Compute
Principal Investigator:	Jan Ernerudh <jan.ernerudh@liu.se>
Affiliation:	Linköpings universitet
Duration:	2019-03-22 – 2020-04-01
Classification:	30207
Keywords:

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by a dysregulated immune system leading to chronic inflammation in the central nervous system. Despite recent progress, treatment is still ineffective. A functional understanding of disease mechanisms and factors that improve the disease could envisage new treatment targets and modes of treatment. Interestingly, pregnancy may serve as a model for successful immune regulation since the relapse rate decreases during pregnancy and pregnancy also exerts beneficial effects on prognosis. The favourable effects surpass the effects of current drugs, emphasizing the rationale of this project; to define mechanisms and factors that are responsible for the dys-regulated immune system in MS and reveal how successful tolerance mechanisms achieved during pregnancy can manage to improve the disease. We will focus on T helper cells, the main regulators of immunity and tolerance. A systems biology approach combining network modelling and gene expression microarray analysis is used to delineate disease- and tolerance-associated pathways in MS and pregnancy, respectively. Emerging molecules are tested in functional assays and as biomarkers in a clinical setting. The project involves an integrated approach combining expertise from immune regulation, clinical neurology, systems biology and reproduction.