Analysis of the role of Notch signal of NK cell in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

• Project/Area Number: 21890027
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Hematology
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: KURITA Naoki University of Tsukuba, 附属病院, 病院講師 (30555561)
• Project Period (FY): 2009 – 2010
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2010)
• Budget Amount: ¥2,600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥600,000); Fiscal Year 2010: ¥1,235,000 (Direct Cost: ¥950,000、Indirect Cost: ¥285,000); Fiscal Year 2009: ¥1,365,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,050,000、Indirect Cost: ¥315,000)
• Keywords: Notch1 / GVHD / NK細胞 / 造血幹細胞移植 / 移植片対宿主病 / Notchシグナル

Research Abstract

The purpose of our study is to clarify roles of Notch signal of NK cell in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Functionally mature NK cells were induced from human cord-blood CD34-positive cells by stimulation with Notch ligand. We established allogeneic stem cell transplantation GVHD model. Diminishment of GVHD was observed when Notch-induced NK cells were transfused into the recipient. It is revealed that NK cells of patients after hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation expressed Notch1 and intestinal epithelial cells, which are targets of GVHD, expressed Notch ligand, Jagged1. This result suggests the relation between Notch signal of NK cell and GVHD.