NODES_INNDIANA_Z82_Carlotta Muschitiello master degree thesis_Di Martino

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, characterized by inflammation and demyelination. Although various therapeutic approaches are available to slow disease progression and modulate the immune response, significant limitations remain due to the disabling effects of current therapies and the incomplete understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms. Recent studies have reported an alteration in Store-Operated Calcium Entry (SOCE), a mechanism regulating intracellular calcium involved in lymphocyte activation, in the lymphocytes of MS patients, contributing to an excessive inflammatory response. In this thesis work, conducted during an external internship at the academic spin-off ChemiCare, the efficacy of CIC-39, a negative modulator of SOCE, in reducing T lymphocyte activation and proliferation without causing immunosuppression was investigated. Furthermore, the potential of dual-targeting SOCE/DHODH compounds was explored, leading to the identification of a promising therapeutic candidate for MS.