| Project/Area Number |
26460577
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Immunology
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| Research Institution | The University of Tokushima |
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Principal Investigator |
MORIMOTO Junko 徳島大学, 先端酵素学研究所(次世代), 助教 (20451396)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
松本 満 徳島大学, 先端酵素学研究所(次世代), 教授 (60221595)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
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| Project Status |
Completed (Fiscal Year 2016)
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| Budget Amount *help |
¥4,940,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,140,000)
Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000)
Fiscal Year 2015: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000)
Fiscal Year 2014: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000)
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| Keywords | 自己免疫疾患 / 自己寛容 / 胸腺髄質上皮細胞 / 中枢性寛容 / 自己抗原 / 胸腺 / Aire |
|---|
| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
Medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) are a heterogeneous population in terms of the spectrum of tissue-restricted antigens (TRAs) expressed from each cell for ensuring the elimination of autoreactive T-cells. Because of these heterogeneities, it is unclear whether mTECs are composed of any particular subsets possessing unique properties for their developmental pathway and/or immunological function. Here, we report a distinct mTEC subset characterized by expression of Ly6 family protein. Ly6C/6G+ mTECs, constituting 5-15% of mature mTECs, were preferentially localized at the cortico-medullary junction, and expressed high levels of TRAs. Remarkably, Ly6C/6G+ mTECs were absent in Aire-deficient mice, suggesting that this subset requires Aire and/or Aire+ mTECs for its production. We suggest that Ly6C/6G+ mTECs serve as an important source of TRAs for efficient cross-presentation during establishment of self-tolerance.
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