| Budget Amount *help |
¥5,200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,200,000)
Fiscal Year 2013: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
Fiscal Year 2012: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000)
Fiscal Year 2011: ¥2,210,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥510,000)
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| Research Abstract |
In this study we aimed to dissect the significance and pathophysiological roles of EP4 receptor-associated protein, EPRAP, a novel cytoplasmic regulator of macrophage activation. We generated EPRAP-deficient mice as well as transgenic mice with enforced expression of EPRAP specifically in macrophages. We used these mice and created animal models of human inflammatory bowel diseases and pulmonary fibrosis. In both experiments, EPRAP deficiency markedly increased infiltrated macrophage activation and local inflammation, resulting in significant decrease in survival rates. In addition, we figured out that EPRPA mitigated the MEK-ERK pathway activation and inhibited macrophage activation in the inflamed lesions. Our results indicated that EPRAP plays crucial roles in the pathogenesis and outcome of various inflammatory diseases by regulating macrophage activation in vivo.
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