Ass. MD TP3: HCA2 activation in PD-Therapeutic effects and mode of action

Neutrophil granulocytes play an important role in the pathophysiology of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) and multiple sclerosis (MS). Neutrophils express the HCA 2  receptor, which, when activated, has shown to have protective influences in both EBA and MS. So far it is only known that apoptosis and migration of neutrophils are influenced, however the intracellular signaling pathway and thus molecular patterns by which HCA 2 -agonists attenuate migration remain unknown. Furthermore, it is unclear whether the release of effector substances is triggered by receptor activation.

Our aim is to characterize the cellular effects HCA 2  receptor activation has in neutrophil granulocytes. In addition, knowledge about intracellular signaling pathways may contribute to reduction of side effects as biased agonists could only affect those molecules that are crucial for the modulation of granulocyte function.