Comprehensive analyses of TCR repertoire for endometriosis; Towards novel endometriosis treatment strategies

• Project/Area Number: 17K16824
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Obstetrics and gynecology
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: WATANABE Zen 東北大学, 大学病院, 講師 (40722567)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2022)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,030,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥930,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
• Keywords: 子宮内膜症 / T細胞レセプターレパートリー解析 / TCRレパートリー解析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease with symptoms that significantly reduce the quality of life of women, and the patients affected by endometriosis has been increasing in recent years. The developmental process of endometriosis is related to the immune system as well as genetic background and environmental factors. By analyzing the structure of the T cell receptor, which is closely related to the immune system, we searched for specificity in endometriosis.
Several characteristic structures were found in individual endometriosis patients. On the other hand, we could not find similarities in endometriosis as a whole and differences from non-endometriosis.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

T細胞受容体の特異的な構造を発見することで、新しいコンセプトを持った治療戦略の開発に寄与することを期待される。本研究では、子宮内膜症における特異的な抗原を求めるまでには至らなかったが、今回得られたデータは、今後の研究コンセプトを上げるヒントになるものと考える。