Exploratory study on endothelial microparticles (EMPs) as possible markers of interstitial lung diseases.

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K09563
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Respiratory organ internal medicine
• Research Institution: Nippon Medical School
• Principal Investigator: Usuki Jiro 日本医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (80318477)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 板倉 潮人 日本医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (50511804)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 血管内皮細胞微小粒子(EMPs) / 薬剤性肺障害 / 間質性肺炎 / 特発性肺線維症 / バイオマーカー / 予後因子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In interstitial lung diseases, the importance of endothelial microparticles (EMPs) from circulating peripheral blood has not been understood. We investigated the clinical role of EMPs from patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonias. We found that the number of PECAM-1-positive EMP at the time of registration was correlated with the decrease of pulmonary function at 6 months later. The total number of EMPs at the time of registration was also correlated with the decrease of pulmonary function at 1 year later. In cases with drug-induced lung injury, a specific kind of EMPs was increased during acute phase and decreased during recovery phase.
We could provide basic knowledge of EMPs as a possible clinical marker in interstitail lung diseases.

Free Research Field

呼吸器内科学、特にびまん性肺疾患・間質性肺炎における病態解明と治療応用

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究成果から、肺の傷害を生じる疾患において、肺の血管を構成する細胞（内皮細胞）から放出され血液中を流れる小さな粒子(EMPs)を解析することで、慢性間質性肺炎の予後を占うことができる可能性が示唆された。さらにその粒子の種類により、臨床的な意味合いが異なるかもしれない。今後症例数を増やして研究を行うための、基礎的な知見を得ることができた。また薬剤による肺障害においても、同様にEMPsを調べることで、傷害の程度や予後を判断する材料になると期待される。