We study NMO, a severe inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS), which is characterized by the formation of large astrocyte-destructive lesions, mostly in the spinal cord and in the optic nerves of affected patients. Most patients harbor pathogenic auto-antibodies, the so-called NMO-IgGs, in their serum. These antibodies are directed against the water channel aquaporin 4 (AQP4), which is found on astrocytes in the CNS. When these antibodies gain access to the brain, they bind to AQP4 on the surface of astrocytes and initiate complement-mediated, antibody-dependent destruction of these cells. Subsequently, myelin loss ensues. We currently dissect the role of T cells, antibodies and cytokines in lesion formation. Recent findings and highlights of current research are outlined below:
Paper: Zeka et al., (2015), Acta Neuropathol, DOI 10.1007/s00401-015-1501-5
contributing students:
PhD students: Bleranda Zeka, Maria Hastermann (Pohl)
Master student: Nikolaus Kögl
Student coworker: Nathalie Kaufmann
Paper: Zeka et al. (2016), Acta Neuropathologica Communications 4:82
contributing students:
PhD students: Bleranda Zeka, Maria Hastermann (Pohl)
a) Characterization of pathogenic AQP4-specific antibodies with mimotopes
b) Antigen recognition by brain-infiltrating T- and B-cells in multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica
Every year, the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy gives the "Award of Excellence" to the 50 best diploma/master thesis and to the best 40 dissertations written in Austria within a study year. These awards come with EURO 3000,00 prize money.
In 2016 the "Award of Excellence" went to Rouven Schulz for his master thesis "Identification of mimotopes for pathogenic anti-aquaporin 4 autoantibodies in neuromyelitis optica by phage display"
In 2017, the "Award of Excellence" went to Bleranda Zeka for her PhD thesis "Highly encephalitogenic AQP4-specific T-cells and NMO IgG primarily target spinal cord and retina in experimental neuromyelitis optica"
In 2017, the VFWF prize in recognition of scientific achievements went to Elisabeth Schuh for her PhD-thesis "CD20 and B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) beyond the B cell compartment". This thesis was carried out in joint supervision with Prof. Edgar Meinl (Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology) in Munich, Germany.
