Novel Therapeutic Strategies for Birch Pollinosis by Targeting Functional Lymphocytes

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K16898
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56050:Otorhinolaryngology-related
• Research Institution: Sapporo Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Yamamoto Keisuke 札幌医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (50738515)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: シラカバ花粉症 / アレルギー性鼻炎 / 濾胞ヘルパー T (Tfh) 細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It was found that Tfh2 cells are increased in patients with birch pollinosis compared to healthy controls, and that allergen immunotherapy (AIT) corrects the Tfh2 shift in the peripheral blood of patients and increases regulatory lymphocytes, the brake of the immune response. Observations of long-term AIT patients revealed that correction of Tfh2 shift in patients' peripheral blood is clearly observed at 12 months, that continuous allergen immunotherapy increases regulatory T cells, the brake of immune response, and that regulatory B cells may regulate antigen-specific IgE production. The results of the study revealed that the regulatory B cells may regulate the production of antigen-specific IgE.

Free Research Field

鼻科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

シラカバ花粉症の病態において Tfh2 細胞や制御性リンパ球がどのようにシラカバ特異的 IgE 抗体の産生を制御しているかという、本研究課題の目的を達成する上で重要な知見が得られた。これらの結果は、シラカバ花粉症の病態解明と新規診断・治療法の開発に向けて重要な知見と考えられる。