Role of regulatory T cells and inflammatory macrophage/Kupffer cells in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

• Project/Area Number: 22790659
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Gastroenterology
• Research Institution: Juntendo University
• Principal Investigator: YOKOKAWA Junko 順天堂大学, 医学部, 助教 (00453019)
• Project Period (FY): 2010 – 2011
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2011)
• Budget Amount: ¥2,990,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥690,000); Fiscal Year 2011: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000); Fiscal Year 2010: ¥1,690,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000)
• Keywords: 非アルコール性脂肪性肝炎 / 制御性T細胞 / NASH / Treg / クッパー細胞 / 炎症性マクロファージ / 肝免疫

Research Abstract

We investigated numbers and function of regulatory T cells(Tregs) in liver tissue in mouse model for metabolic syndrome. We found that the numbers of Tregs in KK-Ay mice were increased, whereas the numbers of Tregs in ob/ob mice and db/db mice were not increased compared to control C57Bl/6 mice. mRNA expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4、IL-10, TGF-Βin Tregs were decreased in KK-Ay mice, ob/ob mice and db/db mice compared to control C57Bl/6 mice. Large numbers of CD8+effector T cells and inflammatory macrophage(M1) infiltrated liver tissue in ob/ob mice and db/db mice. Our findings suggest that the reduced anti-inflammatory effect of Tregs develop steatohepatitis.