The immune system is finely balanced to allow for strong immune responses against foreign antigens (e.g. viruses) but controlled so that self-antigens do not trigger an immune response. In MS, the immune system is dysregulated, leading to immune attacks on self-antigens in the brain and spinal cord. Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) are found on certain immune cells and help control immune responses. However, the KIR family is highly complex and variable among individuals making it challenging to study using traditional methods.
This project will investigate KIR expression from multiple levels, including which genes are present in an individual, when those genes are expressed and what cell types express them. It will compare this between people living with MS and people living without MS to understand the differences in the KIR repertoire in MS.
To date, the available technology has limited the study of KIRs, but recent advances in the understanding of the complexity of KIR and the development of innovative approaches will allow Dr Kaskow and her team to comprehensively characterise KIR expression and elucidate of the role of KIR in MS. Understanding how KIR impacts the balance of the immune system in MS will lead to better, more targeted immunotherapies for MS in the future.
Dr Kaskow and her team studied a group of immune cells called KIR+ CD8+ T cells, how they behave differently in people with MS and how treatments like ocrelizumab and natalizumab affect these cells.
The team discovered that these immune cells had unique changes in people receiving ocrelizumab, distinguishing them from people receiving natalizumab and people without MS. This suggests that ocrelizumab influences the immune system in ways we didn’t previously understand. This could be important for improving how MS treatments are designed and used in the future.
The study also highlighted limitations in current research methods for studying these immune cells. The team developed an improved approach that provides a more accurate picture of how these cells function in MS, which could help guide future studies and treatment strategies.
While the research is still in its early stages, these findings bring us closer to understanding the role of immune cells in MS and could lead to better, more targeted treatments that reduce side effects and improve outcomes for people living with MS.
Last updated 31 March 2025
Professor Allan Kermode
Associate Professor Silvana Gaudieri
Associate Professor Abha Chopra
Dr Pooja Desphande
Mr Eric Alves
Ms Milan Pietracatella
$25,000
2024
1 year
Current project
