Theoretical and experimental analyses to reveal the mechanisms of immune regulation

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K08530
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Immunology
• Research Institution: 医療法人徳洲会野崎徳洲会病院(附属研究所) (2017); Osaka University (2015-2016)
• Principal Investigator: Yamaguchi Tomoyuki 医療法人徳洲会野崎徳洲会病院(附属研究所), 研究所, 主任研究員 (80402791)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 制御性T細胞 / 数理モデル / 不安定性 / ゆらぎ / 免疫チェックポイン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Self-reactive regulatory T cells are essential to maintain the immune tolerance. In this study, I searched which processes in immune response should be controlled by regulatory T cells using simulations and mathematical modeling of T cell immune response. The results indicate that simple reduction of proliferation probability of T cells by regulatory T cells is not sufficient for the robust tolerance. Augmentation of interaction between T cells and antigen-presenting cells is essential to stabilize the tolerance. Further, the theoretical prediction provides novel perturbations to enhance immune responses in autoimmune diabetes mice model and in allogeneic T cell response. Thus, I propose a potential landscape model in immune regulation that stable tolerance proceeds to immune response or proliferation of specific T cells through transient fluctuating states by controlling the total amount of interaction between antigen-presenting cells and T cells.

Free Research Field

免疫学