B15

Nervous tissue regeneration is still an unmet need in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Our latest discovery of a direct neuronal interleukin-4 (IL-4) receptor signalling pathway, leading to axonal protection and repair during chronic neuroinflammation, set the stage for this proposal. We plan to unravel the en-dogenous source and novel functions of IL-4 and develop our discovery for transfer into the clinic. We designed novel compounds, which we would like to test in different MS models, compare and combine with other treatments, and study in human culture systems to directly unravel regenerative effects on human neurons and test blood brain barrier permeability. The aim is that results from these investigations lead to novel insights into neuroprotection and -regeneration and to clinical translation of our compounds. These questions will be elucidated in more detail:

1. 1. What is the source and what are the novel functions of IL-4 in the CNS?
   2. How can we translate IL-4 therapy to the clinic? For this purpose we will use in-house designed novel compounds?
   3. How do the compounds act on human neurons? Are they able to cross the blood brain barrier?

Principal Investigators:

Dr. rer. nat. Christina Francisca Vogelaar
Klinik für Neurologie
Mainz
tineke.vogelaar@unimedizin-mainz.de

Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Frauke Zipp
Klinik für Neurologie
Mainz
frauke.zipp@unimedizin-mainz.de