Identification and characterization of a novel risk factor for MS

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 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): During the course of recruiting MS patients for a study of PBMCs, a family with 5 siblings diagnosed with MS was identified. The prevalence of MS in the US is roughly 1:1000, the odds of having 5 siblings with MS is extremely low and has not been reported. The presence of comorbidity for certain rare tumors led to sequencing analysis of tumor suppressor gene STK11, and a mutation was identified in intron V. STK11 codes for the LKB1 kinase which has been implicated in regulation of cellular metabolism and inflammatory responses in T cells, of inflammatory responses in glial cells, and in oligodendrocyte maturation. This leads to our hypothesis that mutations in STK11 gene leading to a reduction in LKB1 expression cause increased activation of T cells in MS patients which contributes to development of an MS phenotype. Since the role of LKB1 in MS has not been characterized, we further hypothesize that changes in LKB1 expression or activity occur during the course of EAE, the mouse model of MS. If so, then treatments to increase LKB1 may be of therapeutic benefit. In this project, we will determine if other members of the index family harbor the same or similar mutation in the STK11 gene; and test the hypothesis that PBMCs isolated from these family members have reduced or altered expression of LKB1 mRNA, and increased T cell activation. Since a mutation in STK11 alone is not sufficient to induce an MS type phenotype we will carry out full exomic and genomic sequencing to identify associated variants which together with the STK11 mutation could lead to MS. We will determine if the prevalence of any novel variants are increased in the MS population by PCR analysis of DNA samples from 3,000 MS patients (both relapsing remitting and primary progressive forms) and matched controls, including samples obtained from military Veterans of different races who served in the Gulf War Era. Using human T cells, we will determine how the STK11 mutation influences T cell activation; then experimentally manipulate LKB1 expression to identify effects on Tcell activation. In initial studies we found tha reducing LKB1 from astrocytes increase their inflammatory responses, we will therefore characterize LKB1 in astrocyte in vitro and determine if manipulating LKB1 alters astrocyte responses. In mice, we will determine if expression of LKB1 changes during the course of EAE in brain, spinal cord, and in peripheral T cells. Using an LKB1 floxed mouse, we will test if conditional knockout of LKB1 from T cells or astrocytes leads to or exacerbates EAE disease. Finally, we will test if metformin, an FDA approved drug to treat diabetes, can selectively induce apoptosis in the LKB1 deficient T cells in vitro. Positive findings will demonstrate a novel role fr LKB1 in the development of MS disease, and suggest that metformin or related drugs could be used to reduce activated T cells in MS patients who have deficiencies in Tcell LKB1 expression.