The complosome in meningeal health and disease

National Heart, Lung, And Blood Institute

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

The role of intracellular and/or cell-autonomous complement in immune cells in the meninges during infection and during neuro-inflammatory disease such as multiple sclerosis is completely unexplored. Thus, this is an entirely new research area which we have just started. We have now generated unique mouse strains with specific deletion of selected complement genes in specific brain cells and are currently assessing these in mouse models of MS. We are targeting specifically the C5 system because we have generated a floxed C5 reporter mouse line. Experiments will also be combined in the future with the in vivo application of C5 targeting peptides, etc. As of today, we have determined that serum C5 does not contribute to disease severity or course of acute EAE and we noted that microglial C5 may partake in the pathogenesis EAE.