Achievement

Trainee Jillian Cypser and mentor/coPI Tsirka examined the effect of metals on the activation of immune cells, as they explore potential epidemiological risks for the development of the autoimmune disease Multiple Sclerosis. Both microglia and T cells were evaluated. Microglial cells were found to become activated in the presence of 30uM zinc, and this activation led to the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. The results have been included in a manuscript submitted for publication (Wu M, Cypser J, Tsirka SE. Tuftsin attenuates symptoms in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis by shifting T-cell responses, J Immunol, submitted). Additional metals, copper and manganese, are evaluated. Research is ongoing for determination of effects on T cells.