Project R-15205

The therapeutic potential of irisin in MS: targeting three disease hallmarks with one compound (Research)

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common neurological disease characterized by neuroinflammation, demyelination, and neurodegeneration. Despite available therapies targeting the immune response, no curative treatments exist that prevent cognitive decline or promote remyelination. Exercise has shown promise in alleviating MS symptoms, reducing MS risk, and slowing disease progression, although its underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Recent studies suggest that exerciseinduced benefits may be mediated by myokines, such as irisin. Irisin exhibits anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties in vitro and in in vivo models of neurodegeneration. Building upon promising preliminary findings, we hypothesize that irisin administration may benefit MS by targeting inflammation, demyelination, and neurodegeneration. This project will provide detailed insights in the effects of irisin on key cellular players in MS pathology. It will demonstrate the consequences of reduced irisin levels and test therapeutic irisin administration in a preclinical model of MS. Finally, this project will assess irisin's potential benefits in human samples/tissue. Results from this study will be the first to provide solid proof-of-concept for irisin as a novel treatment targeting three hallmarks of MS.

01 December 2024 - 30 November 2028