What B cells reveal about the success of therapy in MS
B cells belong to the white blood cells and, together with T cells, make up the adaptive part of the immune system. We are exploring why this cell population is important in MS and at what levels it is involved.
We are looking at how we can target B cells that have migrated into the brain and modulate them therapeutically. This research is carried out in animal models with mice, with cell cultures, and also with patients.
Here, the development of biomarkers for MS is particularly promising, as we examine blood samples from patients to determine whether B cells play a role in these patients and what these cells say about the success of therapy, for example. Result: With blood analysis alone, we can now predict for certain drugs whether an effect is to be expected or not.
In another project, the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination by administration of the drug ocrelizumab will be assessed. For this purpose, the cytokines and antibodies secreted by T and B cells in response to SARS-CoV-2 antigens before and after the initial administration of the drug will be qualified and quantified using ELISPOT (Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSPOT). Using the same procedure, the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 antigens will be measured a third time after COVID-19 infection or SARS-CoV-2 booster vaccination to determine the change in immune response with existing therapy with ocrelizumab.