Involvement of gut microbiota in numerical regulation of T follicular helper cells associating immune disorders

• Project/Area Number: 15K20214
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Otorhinolaryngology
• Research Institution: Fukushima Medical University (2017); Sapporo Medical University (2015-2016)
• Principal Investigator: Kawata Koji 福島県立医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (20374572)
• Research Collaborator: YAMASHITA Keiji ; NAGAYA Tomonori
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2017)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥900,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥1,690,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000)
• Keywords: 濾胞ヘルパーT細胞 / 腸内細菌叢 / 免疫老化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we examined a relationship between numerical frequency of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, which have an important role in specific humoral immunity, and structural change in intestinal microbiota. In the mice orally treated with antibiotics, the serum revels of IL-2, the cytokine inhibiting Tfh differentiation, were notably increased. It has been reported that a T cell population expressing Tfh-like phenotype were increased with age in normal mice. In our study, a significant increase of Tfh cells was observed in D-galactose-induced aging model mice, while antibiotics treatment effectively inhibited the increment of Tfh cells. These results suggested that intestinal microbiota might be involved in differentiation and numerical regulation of Tfh-like cells, which might contribute to immunosenescence, through a regulation of IL-2 production.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Lipid mediators foster the differentiation of T follicular helper cells (2017)
  • Author(s): Nagaya T
  • Journal Title: Immunology Letters Volume: 181 Pages: 51-57
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2016.11.006
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] 腸内細菌による濾胞ヘルパーT細胞制御の可能性と免疫アレルギー病態 (2017)
  • Author(s): 川田耕司 一宮慎吾
  • Journal Title: アレルギーの臨床 Volume: 37 Pages: 252-255
• [Journal Article] Bob1 limits cellular frequency of T follicular helper cells (2016)
  • Author(s): Yamashita K, Kawata K, Matsumiya H, Kamekura R, Jitsukawa S, Nagaya T, Ogasawara N, Takano K, Kubo T, Kimura S, Shigehara K, Himi T, Ichimiya S.
  • Journal Title: European Journal of Immunology Volume: in press Issue: 6 Pages: 1361-1370
  • DOI: 10.1002/eji.201545499
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Presentation] 転写制御因子Bob1による濾胞ヘルパーT細胞の細胞数調節 (2017)
  • Author(s): 川田耕司
  • Organizer: 第106回日本病理学会総会
• [Presentation] Bob1 limits cell numbers of T follicular helper cells. (2016)
  • Author(s): 1.Kawata K, Yamashita K, Kamekura R, Jitsukawa S, Nagaya T, Ito F, Shigehara K, Takano K, Himi T, Ichimiya S
  • Organizer: The 45rd annual meeting of the Japanese society for immunology
  • Place of Presentation: 沖縄コンベンションセンター 沖縄 日本
  • Year and Date: 2016-12-05