Identification of novel profibrotic cell populations using single cell gene expression analysis and its application to the development of molecular targeted drugs

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K08652
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 53030:Respiratory medicine-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokushima
• Principal Investigator: KAWANO Hiroshi 徳島大学, 大学院医歯薬学研究部(医学域), 特任准教授 (30771571)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 線維細胞 / 一細胞遺伝子発現解析 / 肺線維症

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we performed single cell gene expression analysis of lung fibrocytes to identify new functional subpopulations of fibrocytes, identify novel cell surface markers specific to fibrocytes, and identify regulators of fibrocyte differentiation, with the aim of developing new anti-fibrotic agents based on fibrocyte regulation.
In pulmonary fibrosis model, we isolated a cell population containing fibrocytes using our original method, and performed single cell RNA-seq. We detected subpopulation of macrophages expressing collagen gene. A cell adhesion molecule was identified as cell surface markers specifically expressed in this subpopulation, and their expression kinetics were clarified. We plan to further analyze the functions of the identified adhesion molecules and expand our research to therapeutic applications.

Free Research Field

呼吸器膠原病内科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

コラーゲン遺伝子を発現するマクロファージ亜集団は線維細胞を含む可能性が高く、本研究成果は線維細胞特異的マーカーの同定につながる。その後の詳細な線維細胞の機能解析により、肺線維症に対する新たな治療標的分子を同定しうる点で意義、重要性が高いと考えられる。