Identification of constitutive expression mechanism of periostin in conjunctival fibroblasts derived from severe ocular allergic conjunctivitis patients

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K20296
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Ophthalmology
• Research Institution: National Center for Child Health and Development
• Principal Investigator: OKADA NAOKO 国立研究開発法人国立成育医療研究センター, 免疫アレルギー・感染研究部, (非)研究員 (50636165)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: アレルギー性結膜炎 / 線維芽細胞 / エピジェネティクス / ペリオスチン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Atopic keratoconjunctivitis are severe, chronically relapsing, ocular inflammatory diseases that cause intense inflammation and fibrosis in conjunctiva. However, the precise mechanisms increasing the severity of these diseases remain unknown. We previously focused on conjunctival fibroblasts derived from severe ocular allergic conjunctivitis patients and compared the gene expression patterns. The conjunctival fibroblasts derived from patients showed significantly enhanced periostin expression in the nonstimulated state, and this expression was maintained even after the subculture. In this study, we found that histone methylation state change was occurring at the periostin promoter in patient-derived conjunctival fibroblasts. Furthermore, sustained　periostin expression could observe by TGF-βstimulation. Therefore, these suggested that epigenetic regulation was involved in the induction of long-term and sustained expression of periostin in patient-derived conjunctival fibroblasts.

Free Research Field

アレルギー