Elucidating the Role of Proton-Activated G Protein-Coupled Receptors in Neuroinflammation and Oligodendrocyte Function: Implications for Remyelination in Multiple Sclerosis

To maintain pH homeostasis, cells are required to sense acidic changes in their environment and respond accordingly. A T cell death-associated gene 8 (TDAG8, GPR65) has been shown to sense extracellular protons and stimulate differing signalling pathways. The expression of TDAG8 in normal tissue is primarily restricted to immune cells and often upregulated in solid tumors. However, high-powered GWAS studies identified TDAG8 as a candidate risk gene for multiple sclerosis (MS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). While the function of TDAG8 in IBD has been repeatedly investigated only one study examined the effects of TDAG8 deficiency in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of MS. This project will further examine the role of TDAG8 in the pathophysiology of MS by employing a relapsing EAE model of MS.

This project is being carried out in partnership with Prof. Gerhard Rogler, Dr. Martin Hausmann and Dr. Cheryl DeVallière, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Switzerland

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