Molecular and cellular characterization of pre-autoimmune effects induced by aging in mice

Autoimmune diseases are a major clinical burden, affecting more than 5 % of the world-wide population. While treatment is only applied upon clinical disease manifestation, autoimmune diseases develop over years. However, screening for autoimmune pre-disease is far from being clinical routine due to the lack of definitive biomarkers. Several factors might influence the progression to overt autoimmune disease. Next to genetics, microbiota and environmental factors, aging is increasingly recognized as a potential modulator of immune function and inflammation, both of which are in involved in autoimmune processes.

My project aims to identify cellular and molecular changes in plasma, kidney, pancreas and liver of healthy young and old mice to investigate how aging contributes to the formation of autoantibodies and the outbreak of multiple autoimmune diseases.

To get a deeper insight into inflammatory changes in aging mice, plasma of 18-month-old mice and 1-month-old mice will be analyzed for different inflammatory markers and signs of autoimmunity. We will also analyze for IgM deposition in kidneys and confirm the development of autoimmune pancreatitis by performing immunostaining methods.

Understanding of early pre-autoimmune mechanisms may help us find key factors in the transition from health to autoimmunity in the elderly. If sensitive and specific biomarkers for autoimmune pre-disease could be identified, early detection and possibly even prevention of the clinical manifestation of the disease by therapy modulating the destructive process or antibody production before the onset of clinical symptoms could be possible.