Role of ILC2 in the formation of maternal allergic inflammation and allergic susceptibility of the offspring

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K15362
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Epidemiology and preventive medicine
• Research Institution: Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: Moro Kazuyo 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, 統合生命医科学研究センター, チームリーダー (90468489)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: ILC2 / アレルギー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We examined the distribution of ILC2 and found that ILC2 exist in the uterus and placenta of pregnant mice. While there was a low number of ILC2 in the uterus of non-pregnant mice, they increased during pregnancy. Moreover, induction of allergic inflammation in pregnant mice by administration of IL-33 further increased the number of ILC2 in the uterus and placenta, suggesting ILC2 in these organs play an important role in induction of type 2 immune responses during pregnancy, raising the possibility that maternal allergic inflammation affects allergic susceptibility of the offspring via ILC2.
Next, we administrated IL-33 into female mice, and after pregnancy and delivery, we examined cell populations and cytokine production in the lung and BALF of their offspring. We found that the numbers of ILC2 and eosinophils in the lung were increased and high amounts of IL-5 were detected in the BALF of offspring derived from IL-33-treated mothers.

Free Research Field

免疫学