Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a model for multiple sclerosis - an organ-specific T cell-mediated autoimmune disease. CD8⁺ T cells is a most underestimated 

T cell population in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. Number of experimental evidences indicates that CD8⁺ T cells play a dual role in EAE. On the one side they are clonally expanded and directly involved in CNS damage, on the other side the regulatory function of CD8⁺ T cells in EAE has been proposed. CD8⁺ T cell differentiation is tightly regulated by IL-15/IL-15Ra interaction, therefore a modulation of IL-15/IL-15Ra system affecting
CD8⁺ T cell differentiation, survival and function could have an impact on CNS damage, clinical symptoms and disease score. The aim of this project is to characterize IL-15 dependent CD8⁺ T cell populations involved in EAE pathogenesis and to investigate how the experimental organ specific autoimmune reaction in CNS could be modulated by IL-15/IL-15Ra interaction.

Mylene graduated in 11/2016. Now she works as a Postdoc at the University clinic Hamburg-Eppendorf.