Investigation of IL-9-producing cell types and their function in autoimmunity

• Applicant: Privatdozent Dr. Jan-Eric Turner
• Subject Area: Nephrology
• Term: from 2010 to 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 193073762

CD4+ T helper cells (Th cells) are central players in the adaptive immune response and are crucially involved in the development of autoimmune disease. Their differentiafion in distinct T helper cell subsets with pro- or anti-inflammatory properties is of central importance for regulation of the immune response in autoimmunity and infection. The functional role of the recently identified IL-9-producing "Th9" subset in cell-mediated autoimmunity is not well understood. The Stockinger lab has now designed a "fate" reporter for IL-9 by generating IL- 9-CreEYFP reporter mice that permanenfly express a fluorescent marker in all cells that initiated IL-9 expression. This will allow precise ex vivo isolation of IL-9-producing cells by FACS sorting and determination of their lineage relationships and stability. The proposed project will investigate the function of IL-9-producing cell types in autoimmune disease by using these IL-9-CreEYFP reporter mice in experimental models for multiple sclerosis and crescentic glomerulonephritis.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: United Kingdom
• Host: Professorin Dr. Brigitta Stockinger