Development of a novel therapy for pulmonary hypertension targeting CD271-positive cells

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K08486
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 53020:Cardiology-related
• Research Institution: Kanazawa University
• Principal Investigator: USUI Soichiro 金沢大学, 医学系, 准教授 (50507043)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 肺高血圧 / CD271 / 血管リモデリング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Refractory pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) has a poor prognosis, and new mechanisms of treatment are needed. In this study, we demonstrated the role of the CD271 gene in the pathogenesis of PAH and determine the effect of CD271-positive cell administration on pulmonary microvascular remodeling. In a mouse model of hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension, the number of CD271 cells in the blood was elevated in the hypoxia-exposed group compared to the room-air group. CD271 gene-deficient mice exhibited accelerated hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension pathogenesis. RNA sequence analysis of CD271-positive cells revealed that the vascular endothelial protective factor proteinX was elevated in CD271-positive cells. These results suggest that CD271-positive cells may have an inhibitory effect on pulmonary hypertension.

Free Research Field

循環器内科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究によりCD271陽性細胞が、血管リモデリングを制御し肺高血圧症の病態形成に関与していることが明らかとなった。これらの結果からCD271陽性細胞投与による新規の治療戦略を構築できるのみならずCD271が肺血管リモデリングを反映した、肺高血圧症の発症を早期に診断可能な臨床マーカーの開発も期待できる。