Role of intestinal bacteria in the pathogenesis of autoimmune pancreatitis

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K08468
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 53010:Gastroenterology-related
• Research Institution: Kobe University
• Principal Investigator: Inoue Jun 神戸大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (50631561)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 酒井 新 神戸大学, 医学部附属病院, 特定助教 (50792636) ; 児玉 裕三 神戸大学, 医学研究科, 教授 (80378687)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 自己免疫性膵炎 / 腸内細菌 / 腸管免疫

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is an autoimmune-mediated pathology of unknown etiology characterized by elevated serum IgG4 levels. The purpose of this study is to analyze the state of intestinal immunity against intestinal bacteria in AIP and clarify its relationship with the pathology of AIP.
In this study, we analyzed the amount of each isotype of immunoglobulin secreted in the intestinal tract of AIP patients and clarified that the intestinal secretion of IgG4 is enhanced in AIP patients. Microbiome that bind to IgG4 abnormally secreted in the intestinal tract were isolated by MACS and FACA and analyzed by next-generation sequencing. In this study, changes in the state of intestinal immunity against microbiota in AIP were clarified, providing basic knowledge of the pathogenesis of AIP.

Free Research Field

消化器内科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

血清IgG4高値を特徴とした自己免疫的機序により起こる膵炎である自己免疫性膵炎(AIP)は、原因が不明であるため現時点で特異的な治療が存在しない。長期のステロイド治療による合併症や時に診断が困難な事などが問題となっており、メカニズム解明が重要である。本研究によりAIPにおける腸内細菌に対する腸管免疫の状態の変化が明らかとなり、AIPの病態解明につながる基礎的知見の一端となると考えられ社会的意義は大きいと考える。