Regulatory mechanisms of activated B cell fate which contribute diversity of immune response

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16H05138
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: General medical chemistry
• Research Institution: University of Fukui
• Principal Investigator: Sugai Manabu 福井大学, 学術研究院医学系部門, 教授 (90303891)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 黒岡 尚徳 相模女子大学, 栄養科学部, 教授 (00293879) ; 林 達成 福井大学, 学術研究院医学系部門, 特命助教 (80781111) ; 南部 由希子 福井大学, 学術研究院医学系部門, 准教授 (70580380) ; 森 健太郎 福井大学, 学術研究院医学系部門, 助教 (50397296)
• Research Collaborator: SAKAMOTO hiroshi
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: B cell / Mitochondria / Metabolism / Differentiation / クラススイッチ組換え / 形質細胞分化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The acquired immune response is mediated by lymphocytes, which express highly diverse receptors. After lymphocytes specifically recognize the antigen　through their specific receptors, immune reactions started. Among the acquired immune cells, B lymphocytes, which produce immunoglobulin, differentiate into various cells upon activation. Precise mechanism that govern cell fate determination processes of activated B cells are not well understood. We previously found that mitochondrial status influence cell fate determination of activated B cells. For instance, the choice of PCD (plasma cell differentiation) or CSR (class switch recombination), which occurs in activated B cells, was dependent on mitochondrial functional activity. In this study, we examined in more detail the control mechanism of activated B cell differentiation by the difference in mitochondrial function.

Free Research Field

分子生物学　分子免疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

細胞分化を司る転写因子ネットワークの重要性は既に広く知られているが、分化決定の初期過程や、その後引き続いて確立される安定した転写因子ネットワーク（分化決定）に至る過程、さらには安定した分化状態から別の分化状態に移行する過程の詳細は不明である。本研究では、この未解明な分野に光を当て、その一端を明らかにした事によって、細胞分化の理解に貢献すると考える。