Project description
T cell-driven autoimmune process leads to chronic brain inflammation with progressive neurodegeneration
The brain is an immune-privileged organ where the resident cells exert limited immune functions. However, in the case of multiple sclerosis, a T cell-induced chronic autoimmune disease, the brain tissue is transformed into an immunoactive milieu. The EU-funded T-Neuron project aims to uncover the mechanisms of T cell-induced neuronal transformation, specifically the functional consequences of T cell invasive behaviour. Previous studies showed that autoaggressive T cells within autoimmune lesions are usually in direct contact with neurons or reside inside the cytoplasm of neurons. The repeated autoimmune attacks of the grey matter induce persistent inflammation and neurodegeneration. The project will test the hypothesis that T cells directly contribute to the development of the chronic disease by irreversibly shifting brain resident cells to an inflammatory state.
Objective
The TOPIC of this proposal is how a T-cell-driven autoimmune process can transform the brain into a chronically inflamed tissue afflicted by progressive neurodegeneration.
The brain is considered to be an immune-privileged organ because immune cells have restricted access to its tissue and its resident cells can only exert limited immune functions. However, in the course of multiple sclerosis, a T-cell-induced chronic autoimmune disease of the brain, such aspects change dramatically and the brain tissue is transformed into an immunoactive milieu. These changes go hand in hand with a gradual degeneration of the neuronal tissue. What steers this transformative process in the brain is not yet understood.
We have developed new experimental models and tools that enable us to follow and functionally test this transition from healthy into degenerating brain tissue in real time. We found that autoaggressive T cells within autoimmune lesions were frequently in direct contact with neurons or were partially or even completely inside the cytoplasm of neurons. Repeated T-cell-mediated autoimmune attacks of the CNS grey matter induce persistent inflammatory lesions with proceeding neurodegeneration. This leads us to the HYPOTHESIS that T cells not only trigger the initiation of autoimmune disease bouts but in addition directly contribute to the chronification of the disease by irreversibly shifting brain resident cells to an inflammatory program. The central AIM of this project is to uncover the mechanisms behind this T-cell-induced neuronal transformation process, particularly the functional consequences of the T-cell invasive behavior.
Our VISION is to shed new light on this previously unknown function of autoaggressive T cells within the CNS tissue and thereby pave the way for new and targeted strategies to prevent autoimmunity-driven degeneration of the central nervous system.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences neurobiology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology autoimmune diseases
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2020-ADG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
37075 Goettingen
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.