Epigenomic analysis of fatty acid binding proteins in psoriasis.

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K00884
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Eating habits
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Kato Yukihiko 東京医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (90246231)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 乾癬 / 脂肪酸タンパク

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Psoriasis is a disorder of unknown cause in which chronic dermatitis is disabling and persistent, and is complicated by arthritis with joint destruction in about 10% of patients. It is also prone to comorbidity with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular The life expectancy is shortened by 6 years due to the cardiovascular disorder. Fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) is responsible for intracellular fatty acid transport and is closely associated with a variety of systemic diseases. The applicant extracted RNA from whole skin layers of psoriasis patients to examine gene expression of subclasses of FABP and to study the localization of FABP in the patients' skin. In a preliminary study, a subclass of FABPs that was highly expressed by comprehensive gene expression analysis was methylated in all psoriasis patients and unmethylated in the target group, suggesting a link to the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

Free Research Field

皮膚科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

乾癬は単なる炎症性皮膚疾患ではなく、心血管疾患、関節破壊を伴う関節炎、うつ病など全身の炎症性疾患と捉えることができる。その原因は不明だが、本研究により、網羅的エピゲノム解析から得られた脂肪酸タンパクがヒトサンプルでメチル化されていることが確認できた。今後、これらの意義が解明され、乾癬などの全身性炎症性疾患の機序解明や治療薬開発につながる可能性がある。