Prof. Dr. Ayça Sayı Yazgan’s project was funded by the Health Institutes of Türkiye (TUSEB). 

The project, titled "Exploring a Novel Approach for MS Treatment: Utilizing Native-like IL-27 Producing Breg(i27-Breg) Cells in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis," received support within the TUSEB framework under Prof. Dr. Ayça Sayı Yazgan's supervision.   Sudenur Arsoy, a master's student in her Molecular and Immunology Laboratory, will be conducting the experiments. Additionally, Prof. Dr. Haluk Barbaros Oral, Assist. Prof. Haldun Bal and Asist. Prof. Diğdem Yöyen Ermiş at Bursa Uludağ University are involved in the project as researchers.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) stands as the leading cause of non-traumatic disability in young adults, characterized by inflammation, demyelination, and axonal damage. While the exact number of MS patients in Turkiye remains unknown, estimates suggest it ranges from 40,000 to 50,000. Despite the availability of drugs for MS treatment, some patients do not derive benefits or face severe side effects due to high doses of biological drugs. Hence, alternative approaches, such as systemic cellular therapies inducing immune system tolerance, are being explored.

The research aims to investigate the therapeutic potential of IL-27-producing regulatory B cells (i27-Breg) and the exosomes they generate. These cells have recently shown promise in a mouse MS model by releasing the anti-inflammatory IL-27 cytokine. This investigation marks the first attempt to scrutinize the therapeutic effects of i27-Breg cell derived exosomes, offering a new perspective in the pursuit of effective MS treatments.