The role of Effector B cell in Systemic Sclerosis

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K10232
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Dermatology
• Research Institution: Kanazawa University
• Principal Investigator: Takehara Kazuhiko 金沢大学, 医学系, 教授 (50142253)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 松下 貴史 金沢大学, 附属病院, 講師 (60432126)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 全身性強皮症 / IL-6 / IL-10 / 制御性B細胞 / エフェクターB細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by skin and lung fibrosis. B cells play an important role in SSc pathogenesis. The blood levels of IL-6 producing effector B cells and IL-10 producing regulatory B cells were measured in 29 patients with SSc and 20 healthy subjects by FACS. The frequency of IL-6 producing effector B cells in blood was significantly elevated in patients with SSc than that in healthy controls. In contrast, the frequency of IL-10 producing regulatory B cells in blood was significantly decreased in patients with SSc than in healthy controls. Furthermore, the frequency of IL-6 producing effector B cells positively correlated with the extent of skin fibrosis in SSc patients.The result suggested that the dysregulation of effector and regulatory B cell balance contributes to SSc pathogenesis.

Free Research Field

皮膚科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

全身性強皮症は皮膚・内臓諸臓器の線維化を来す自己免疫疾患で、重症例では致死率の高い難病である。本研究により、IL-6産生Effector B細胞の測定法を開発し、そのフェノタイプを同定した。また、全身性強皮症においてIL-6産生Effector B細胞が上昇しており、さらに重症度を反映するスキンスコアを相関することを明らかにした。これらの結果より、IL-6産生Effector B細胞が全身性強皮症の新規治療標的となる可能性が示唆され、学術的意義の高い研究成果である。