Analysis of humoral abnormality caused by functional imbalance of follicular helper T cells.

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K15723
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Otorhinolaryngology
• Research Institution: Sapporo Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Himi Tetsuo 札幌医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (90181114)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 一宮 慎吾 札幌医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (30305221) ; 高野 賢一 札幌医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (70404689)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: ヘルパーT細胞 / 脂質メディエーター / IgG4関連疾患 / 抗体産生

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To determine the pathophysiologic features of diseases regarding immunological dysregulation, we examined subsets of follicular helper T (Tfh) cells and regulatory B (Breg) cells in peripheral blood and affected lesion from　allergic rhinitis (AR) and IgG4-RD patients. The results showed skewed polarization of Tfh cell subsets in both AR and IgG4-RD cases. Interestingly, the %Breg cells in total B cells were decreased in AR cases and, more extensively, in AR. Moreover, we found significant correlations of fractional exhaled nitric oxide and blood eosinophil levels with the index %Tfh2 cells per %Breg cells. Our findings indicate that relative decrease in Breg cells under the condition of Tfh2 cell skewing is a putative exaggerating factor of AR to bronchial asthma. Patients with IgG4-related dacryoadenitis and sialadenitis (IgG4-DS) showed increased infiltration of Tfh cells highly expressing PD-1 and ICOS in submandibular glands.

Free Research Field

耳鼻咽喉科