Roles of CD300a in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K19603
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Collagenous pathology/Allergology
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Ayano Masahiro 九州大学, 医学研究院, 助教 (40773677)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: CD300a / アポトーシス / ホスファチジルセリン / 全身性強皮症 / CD8陽性T細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

CD300a is identified as a phosphatidylserine receptor and involved in the regulation of apoptosis. In this study, we revealed that CD300a expression on CD8+ T cells was upregulated after activation of the cells, and that CD300a+CD8+ T cells had increased effector functions such as cytokine production and cytotoxic activity. The effector functions were suppressed by the interaction with CD300a and apoptotic cells. CD300a+CD8+ T cells were increased in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) compared with healthy controls and were appreciably associated with the severity of skin sclerosis. These findings indicate that upregulated CD300a expression on CD8+ T cells reflects disease severity and is involved in SSc pathogenesis.

Free Research Field

膠原病内科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

全身性強皮症は既存の免疫抑制療法や分子標的療法では生命予後の改善に乏しく、病態の解明および新規治療法の開発が必要な疾患である。本研究ではCD300a陽性CD8陽性T細胞の機能的特徴を解明し、CD8陽性T細胞がアポトーシス細胞との相互作用を介して機能制御されていることを示した。本研究の結果からCD300aが全身性強皮症の病態に関連することが示唆され、CD300aを標的とした治療法の有効性が期待される。