Mechanisms Of Immune Complex-mediated Inflammation In The Cerebral Microvasculature
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$146,500.00
Summary
Immune complexes are formed when an antibody binds to the molecules it is directed against. Normally, this is important for fighting infection. However in some autoimmune diseases, inappropriate formation of immune complexes can be damaging to our own tissues. This damage occurs because immune complexes attract white blood cells to the areas where they form. Many tissues can be affected by this process. However, we know very little about the effects of immune complexes specifically in the brain. ....Immune complexes are formed when an antibody binds to the molecules it is directed against. Normally, this is important for fighting infection. However in some autoimmune diseases, inappropriate formation of immune complexes can be damaging to our own tissues. This damage occurs because immune complexes attract white blood cells to the areas where they form. Many tissues can be affected by this process. However, we know very little about the effects of immune complexes specifically in the brain. This is important because immune complexes are found in the brain in diseases such as lupus. Therefore the aim of this proposal is to determine how immune complexes induce damaging inflammation in the brain.Read moreRead less