Analysis of predisposing factors on early fibrotic focus in interstitial pneumonia using microdissection

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K19434
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Respiratory organ internal medicine
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: URUSHIYAMA HIROKAZU 東京大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (20725303)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 間質性肺炎 / 細胞外基質 / 線維芽細胞 / IV型コラーゲン / ミクロダイセクション / 免疫組織化学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a poor prognosis lung fibrosis with a lot of active fibrotic lesions (i.e., fibroblastic foci). Fibroblasts in fibroblastic foci produced a large amount of extracellular matrix and leaded the destruction of lung architecture. Extracellular matrix acted as not only supporting material of tissues, but also regulatory factor of cellular function thorough receptors for extracellular matrix. This study showed that fibroblasts secreted type IV collagen in fibroblastic foci of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Type IV collagen decreased the migration of lung fibroblasts and angiogenesis. These functions of type IV collagen were consistent with morphological characteristics of fibroblastic lesions such as poor vascularization and with the persistence of progressive fibrosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Type IV collagen may be a prognosis prediction of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and a new therapeutic target of lung fibrosis.

Free Research Field

間質性肺炎