Combining in vivo spectral biphoton imaging and multiparametric cytometry to characterize the dynamics of the innate immune response in a multiple sclerosis mouse model

Project Information

InnateMSDyn

Grant agreement ID: 704514

DOI

10.3030/704514

Project closed

EC signature date 12 April 2016

Start date 1 July 2016

End date 30 June 2018

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 173 076,00

EU contribution

€ 173 076,00

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITE D'AIX MARSEILLE
France

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - InnateMSDyn (Combining in vivo spectral biphoton imaging and multiparametric cytometry to characterize the dynamics of the innate immune response in a multiple sclerosis mouse model)

Reporting period: 2016-07-01 to 2018-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Multiple sclerosis is a disease affecting more than 2.3 million people worldwide. Combining the use of “multicolor” mice and advanced imaging techniques, my aim was to characterize the dynamics and the diversity of immune cells in a mice model of multiple sclerosis as well as axonal degeneration. We correlated the data with evolution of motor deficits. We showed that innate immune cells are of first importance in the spinal cord pathogenesis, with a complex recruitment and activation pattern. Finally, we treated the mice with anti-VEGF antibody to better understand the role of VEGF in this pathology and evaluate its potential as therapeutic drugs. The treatment allowed the mice to better recover after disease peak, leading to the idea that it could be helpful to improve patients’ quality of life.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The first main results are that innate immune cells, i.e. neutrophils and monocytes, enter the spinal cord before T and B cells and are even more numerous. Monocytes mature once inside the spinal cord into monocyte-derived dendritic cells, and microglial cells are only afterwards recruited to the inflamed areas. This data highlight the important role of innate immune cells in multiple sclerosis. These results have been published in an open-access peer-reviewed scientific journal and presented in 7 national and international scientific meetings, and 7 popularized events open to public.
The second main result is the beneficial effect of anti-VEGF treatment on the mice, allowing a better recovery after disease peak. This data is not published yet because we are still working on precising the underlying mechanisms.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Knowledge about all the immune cells involved in multiple sclerosis is very important to understand and thus treat the disease. New therapeutic drugs are urgently required to help people suffering from multiple sclerosis, and we truly hope our results will be used as such. Moreover, anti-VEGF treatment is already used in other cases, thus secondary effects are quite known and therefore manageable. The potential socio-economic impact is a better quality of life for all patients suffering of multiple sclerosis.

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