Antigen identification of clonally expanded T cells in aging cerebrospinal fluid

Beginning September 1, 2021, I will join Northwestern’s Neurology department as an assistant professor. My goal is to continue the aims of this study by utilizing CSF samples acquired through the Northwestern ADRC. I have been given assurances from my department chair, Dr. Dimitri Krainc, that I will have access to these critical specimens. In fact, Dr. Krainc recently formed a lumbar puncture clinic where CSF samples will be acquired from consenting patients. Therefore, the goals of the study remain intact. In Specific Aim 1, T cell clonality and immunophenotyping of aged and AD CSF will be measured separately by sequencing TCRs and RNA of CSF immune cells. This approach will determine whether aged and/or AD CSF contains higher proportions of antigen-experienced, clonal T cells and will reveal their transcriptomic profile. In Specific Aim 2, antigen identification screens will be used to detect the antigen(s) driving T cell clonal expansion in aged/AD CSF.