Practical research for biomarkers predicting tumorigenesis in polymyositis and dermatomyositis

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K07719
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 50020:Tumor diagnostics and therapeutics-related
• Research Institution: Toyo University
• Principal Investigator: KATO KAZUNORI 東洋大学, 理工学部, 教授 (60233780)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 自己免疫性筋炎 / 血清バイオマーカー / 皮膚筋炎 / ガレクチン３ / CD146 / 間質性肺炎 / 病態悪化マーカー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study was to evaluate the expressions of galectin-3 in sera and tissues of patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) and assess the associations of galectin-3 with patient characteristics and disease activity. Serum galectin-3 levels were significantly higher in IIM patients than HC. The serum galectin-3 levels positively correlated with serum levels of inflammatory markers and the Myositis Intention-to-Treat Activity Index. Stratification analysis revealed that patients with IIM-associated ILD had significantly higher levels of serum galectin-3 than those without IIM-ILD. In addition, patients with acute/subacute interstitial pneumonia had significantly higher levels of serum galectin-3 than those with chronic interstitial pneumonia. Furthermore, serum galectin-3 levels in IIM-ILD patients correlated with treatment response. Galectin-3 may can serve as a potential biomarker of disease activity, especially in patients with IIM-ILD.

Free Research Field

病態検査学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、突発性間質性肺炎などの病態悪化に関連する新規バイオマーカー「ガレクチン３」を同定し、多発性筋炎/PM・皮膚筋炎/DM患者の病態悪化を予測または早期診断を促す検査マーカーの可能性を示すことができた。今後は、多施設によるデータの測定および医療データの入力を行い、実用化を目指す。更に筋炎以外の自己免疫性疾患にも応用が可能となれば、非常に大きな医療効果に繋がると確信する。