# Immunologic Characterization of CSF microglia in multiple sclerosis

> **NIH NIH R21** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $196,875

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Microglia are long-lived, self-replicating, yolk sac-derived immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS)
parenchyma that are critical modulators of immunity and neuropathology. Microglia dysfunction contributes to
several neurologic diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS). In our preliminary studies, we have
unexpectedly identified microglia circulating with the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with MS. We
hypothesize that CSF microglia are endogenous CNS cells that exhibit signatures unique to neurologic disease
states. We aim to identify any disease-associated characteristics of CSF microglia. We will explore the number
and immunologic features of CSF microglia in MS by flow cytometric analysis. To explore the molecular
signature of CSF microglia in various disease states, we will perform single cell RNA sequencing on sorted
CSF microglial cells. Comparisons will be made between gene expression patterns in CSF microglia between
MS in relation to healthy control subjects to determine the health- and disease-specific profile of these cells.
Finally, we will pursue immunologic phenotyping both by flow cytometry and transcriptomic analysis in MS
patients before and after treatment. This proposal will lay the groundwork for the characterization of a novel
cellular population capable of regulating CNS immunity.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10374170
- **Project number:** 5R21NS121818-02
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Brian Todd Edelson
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $196,875
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-04-01 → 2024-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10374170

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10374170, Immunologic Characterization of CSF microglia in multiple sclerosis (5R21NS121818-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10374170. Licensed CC0.

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