Pathogenesis of IgG4-related disease: disease developing mechanism by specific antigen

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K17894
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Human pathology; Immunology
• Research Institution: Kurume University (2018-2019); Okayama University (2017)
• Principal Investigator: Takeuchi Mai 久留米大学, 医学部, 助教 (10759666)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: IgG4関連疾患 / 樹状細胞 / リンパ球 / 遺伝子発現解析 / 免疫

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Langerhans cell-like dendritic cells were significantly increased in IgG4-related disease involving salivary glands in our previoud study. We hypothesized that certain specific antigens stimulated these dendritic cells to cause IgG4-related disease. Although we tried to investigate peripheral blood of patients, we changed our plan because the representative researcher moved to other institution. Instead, we planned comprehensive gene expression analysis using nCounter method. Although COVID-19 interrupted the analysis, we will finish the analysis shortly and publish the results at academic meeting and journals.

Free Research Field

血液病理

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

IgG4関連疾患は原因不明の腫瘤形成性疾患であり難病指定を受けている。治療の第一選択はステロイドであるが、ステロイドの長期投与による副作用やステロイド中断後の再燃が問題となる他、ステロイド無効例に対する治療も課題となっている。本研究でIgG4関連疾患の病態が解明されれば、より効果的な治療開発の一助となることが期待される。