Investigation of the molecular foundation reducing a natural immunity caused by chronic stress

• Project/Area Number: 16K09271
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: General internal medicine(including psychosomatic medicine)
• Research Institution: Kindai University
• Principal Investigator: FUNAKAMI Yoshinori 近畿大学, 薬学部, 講師 (70449833)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-10-21 – 2019-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2018)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,680,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,080,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000)
• Keywords: 慢性ストレス / 自然免疫 / 自律神経 / 肺胞マクロファージ / 貪食

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated the effect that chronic stress condition gave for natural immunity. As a result, we obtained the following findings.
(1) The chronic stress reduces a phagocytic activity of the alveolar macrophage and a production of inflammatory cytokine. (2) Sympathetic hypotonia is involved in a decrease of the phagocytic activity in the alveolar macrophage. (3) The phagocytic activity decrease of the chronic stress-induced alveolar macrophage is improved by a beta 2 receptor stimulant drug.These results suggest that the chronic stress reduces natural immunity through a beta 2 receptor.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

この研究から，慢性ストレスにより破綻した自律神経系を介して自然免疫系に重要な役割を果たしている肺胞マクロファージの機能低下を誘発し，ストレスにより発症及び憎悪する一因に免疫力の低下が様々な疾患に関与している可能性が明らかとなった。また，このメカニズムの一端を解明したことでストレス関連症状の発症や悪化した症状を抑制し，患者のQOLを向上させる一つの手段となり得ることが期待できる。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Translation of Hepatitis A Virus IRES Is Upregulated by a Hepatic Cell-Specific Factor (2018)
  • Author(s): Sadahiro Akitoshi、Fukao Akira、Kosaka Mio、Funakami Yoshinori、Takizawa Naoki、Takeuchi Osamu、Duncan Kent E.、Fujiwara Toshinobu
  • Journal Title: Frontiers in Genetics Volume: 9 Pages: 1-10
  • DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00307
  • NAID: 120006534584
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Enhanced Hyperthermic Responses to Lipopolysaccharide in Mice Exposed to Repeated Cold Stress. (2017)
  • Author(s): Miyamoto T1, Funakami Y, Kawashita E, Tomita S, Nomura A, Sugimoto N, Saeki H, Miyazakia T, Tsubota M, Ichida S, Kawabata A.
  • Journal Title: Pharmacology. Volume: 99 Issue: 3-4 Pages: 172-178
  • DOI: 10.1159/000454815
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Repeated Cold Stress Enhances the Acute Restraint Stress-Induced Hyperthermia in Mice (2017)
  • Author(s): Miyamoto T, Funakami Y, Kawashita E, Nomura A, Sugimoto N, Saeki H, Tsubota M, Ichida S, Kawabata A.
  • Journal Title: Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin Volume: 40 Issue: 1 Pages: 11-16
  • DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b16-00343
  • NAID: 130005188787
  • ISSN: 0918-6158, 1347-5215
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] The coupling mechanism between translation and mRNA degradation mediated by RNA-binding protein HuD (2016)
  • Author(s): Miwa Takechi, Akira Fukao , Yoshinori Funakami, Toshinobu Fujiwara
  • Organizer: 第39回日本分子生物学会年会
  • Place of Presentation: パシフィコ横浜（横浜）
  • Year and Date: 2016-11-30
• [Presentation] RNA結合タンパク質HuDによる翻訳促進機構の素過程の解析 (2016)
  • Author(s): 大塚衆志，深尾亜喜良，船上仁範，藤原俊伸
  • Organizer: 第39回日本分子生物学会年会
  • Place of Presentation: パシフィコ横浜（横浜）
  • Year and Date: 2016-11-30