# Pathogenic B cell and T helper cell interactions in Neuromyelitis Optica

> **NIH NIH R01** · OKLAHOMA MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION · 2021 · $423,162

## Abstract

Summary:
 Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a rare but devastating inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system
(CNS) that primarily affects the optic nerves and spinal cord. NMO was initially characterized as a subset of
multiple sclerosis (MS), but is now considered a distinct disease. Currently, there are no FDA approved therapies
for NMO. In fact, many MS therapies, most notably interferon-beta (IFN-β), worsens NMO. The limited therapies
for NMO demonstrates that this disease has clear unmet needs in neurology. The goal of this project is to
understand the immune pathways that contribute to disease activity in NMO. The aims of this proposal will
address three connected but distinct issues that will have an impact NMO patients. Aim 1 will how determine
how IFN-β signaling effects B-cells from patients with NMO. This will be achieved by CyTOF and transcriptomic
analysis of B-cells from patients. Aim 2 will assess the direct interaction between B-cell subsets and T helper
cells from NMO and healthy volunteers by utilizing cell culturing techniques. Aim 3 will utilize variations of
experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis model to understand how the B-cells cytokines effect TH17-
induced neuro-autoimmune disease. The first two aims of this proposal will be a highly translation collaboration
between Drs. Axtell, Lessard (autoimmune geneticist) and Pardo (the director of OMRF's MS Center of
Excellence), and the Accelerated Cure Project (ACP). The clinical expertise and large patient population of the
OMRF MS Center and the ACP will provide to this project will enable these aims to be accomplished. The third
aim utilizes our strength in animal models of neuro-autoimmunity that will give insight into the biological
mechanisms behind NMO. The combination of research on human subject and the mechanistic animal
experiments outlined in this proposal have the potential to give deep insight into pathological processes that
underlie and NMO.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10178030
- **Project number:** 5R01EY027346-05
- **Recipient organization:** OKLAHOMA MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION
- **Principal Investigator:** Robert C Axtell
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $423,162
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-30 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10178030

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10178030, Pathogenic B cell and T helper cell interactions in Neuromyelitis Optica (5R01EY027346-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10178030. Licensed CC0.

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