Research projects

Development of Diagnostic Tests to Detect Autoantibodies in CFS

About

Status:

Ongoing

Principal investigator:

Carmen Scheibenbogen

Country:

Germany

Study start:

Not available

Completion (planned):

Not available

Last update:

2023-12-01

Research types:

Basic research

Research areas:

Immune system dysfunction

Interventions:

Not applicable

Priv. Sector Partner:

Not available

Sponsors:

Weidenhammer Zoebele Foundation (WZS), Lost Voices Foundation (LVS), Solve ME/CFS Initiative (Solve M.E.)

Links

Project website

Project description

In recent years, autoantibodies against G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been identified in a number of diseases. The investigators could demonstrate elevated and functionally altered ß-adrenergic autoantibodies in a subgroup of patients with ME/CFS. Previous functional tests are not suitable as a clinical diagnostic test due to the lack of standardization. Protein-based ELISAs for GPCR autoantibodies are available but have lower sensitivity than functional assays. In this project the investigators try to develop more sensitive and specific diagnostic tests for the detection of GPCR antibodies on the platform of a cytometric bead array. Furthermore, they analyse the function of GPCR antibodies.

(Description adapted from project website: see link above)

Patient cohort

Not available

Patients enrolled: Not available

Age group: 18 - 75 years (Adults)

Research areas

4

Research types

1

Research networks

0

Working groups

1

People

1

Publications

5

Organisations

1

Research areas

Autoimmune disorders are characterised by the production of antibodies that react with host tissues or immune effector cells that are autoreactive to endogenous peptides. (Description adapted from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/68001327 and https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/680567...

Research projects:

Antibodies that react with self-antigens (autoantigens) of the organism that produced them. (Description adapted from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/68001323)

Research projects:

9

Publications:

25

Immune system dysfunction

Immune system is the body's defense mechanism against foreign organisms or substances and deviant native cells. It includes the humoral immune response and the cell-mediated response and consists of a complex of interrelated cellular, molecular, and genetic components. Diseases of the immune system are disorders caused by abnormal or absent immunologic mechanisms, whether humoral, cell-m...

Research projects:

G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) autoantibodies

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of cell surface receptors involved in signal transduction. They share a common structure and signal through heterotrimeric G-Proteins. GPCR-Autoantibodies are functional autoantibodies that bind to GPCR and activate second-messenger cascades in an uncontrolled manner. (Description adapted from:

Research projects: