Investigation of the role of immunoinflammatory responses in atherosclerotic disease and development of novel immunotherapies

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K09156
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Cardiovascular medicine
• Research Institution: Kobe Pharmaceutical University (2017); Kobe University (2015-2016)
• Principal Investigator: SASAKI NAOTO 神戸薬科大学, 薬学部, 准教授 (00514746)
• Research Collaborator: KASAHARA KAZUYUKI ; EMOTO TAKUO ; HAYASHI TOMOHIRO ; MATSUMOTO TAKUYA 神戸大学, 医学研究科 ; MIZOGUCHI TAIJI 神戸薬科大学, 薬学部, 研究員 (40806882)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 動脈硬化 / 腹部大動脈瘤 / 炎症・免疫反応

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Using atherosclerotic Foxp3+ regulatory T cell (Treg)-depleted mice, we provided direct evidence that Foxp3+ Tregs play a protective role in the development of atherosclerosis by regulating immunoinflammatory responses. Using atherosclerotic CTLA-4 (cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4) transgenic mice, we demonstrated that CTLA-4 regulates atherosclerosis by suppressing pathogenic immune responses. We found that UVB irradiation reduced the development and related mortality of angiotensin II-induced abdominal aortic aneurysm in mice and that these protective effects were associated with systemic expansion of Foxp3+ Tregs and reduced inflammatory responses in aortic aneurysmal lesions.

Free Research Field

循環器内科学