Elucidation of the function of group 2 innate lymphoid cells in chronic and severe cases of amebiasis

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K19118
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Parasitology (including sanitary zoology)
• Research Institution: Nagasaki University
• Principal Investigator: NAKAMURA Risa 長崎大学, 熱帯医学研究所, 助教 (50645801)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 赤痢アメーバ症 / グループ２自然リンパ球 / Th2サイトカイン / 寄生虫感染症 / 免疫学 / 腸赤痢アメーバ症

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Intestinal amebiasis is chronic and presents severe symptoms such as liver abscess and brain abscess. Preventing the chronic infection of Entamoeba histolytica is important in host defense against severe pathological conditions. It has been reported that intestinal infection of Entamoeba histolytica produces a large amount of Th2 cytokines from the early phase of infection, but its role in the source and pathogenesis and severity has not been clarified. In this study, we found that the source of Th2 cytokines early in infection with Entamoeba histolytica is group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2). Furthermore, the in vivo depletion of ILC2 revealed that ILC2 and its Th2 cytokines contribute to exacerbating the pathogenesis of amebiasis.

Free Research Field

感染免疫学