Grant: Project Grant

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the brain and spinal cord that affects close to 1 in 300 Canadians. MS is believed to result from the immune system mistakenly attacking myelin, which is the protective insulating material that surrounds nerve cells. Losing myelin ultimately results in nerve cell death and in disability for the individual. A number of drugs are available to treat the early, relapsing/remitting form of the disease. However, at least half of all MS patients will develop chronic progressive symptoms during their disease course, and treatment options for this form of the disease are limited. It is therefore crucial that we identify genes that could predict progressive MS and that could be potential targets for therapy. Using data mining approaches, we have identified a gene, Gpr160, whose expression is increased in white blood cells taken from people with progressive MS. In this grant application, we propose to identify the specific types of white blood cells in which Gpr160 is expressed during progressive MS. We will also study multiple blood samples taken over several years from the same patients (a "longitudinal" study) to see if Gpr160 can predict MS progression. In the second part of the study, we will use well-established mouse model of MS to study the role of GPR160 in disease processes. We will generate GPR160-knockout mice using cutting-edge CRISPR technology, and will study whether they develop less or more severe progressive disease.