The role of Langerhans cells in the pathogenesis of psoriasis

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K08774
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 53050:Dermatology-related
• Research Institution: Kochi University
• Principal Investigator: Nakajima Kimiko 高知大学, 教育研究部医療学系臨床医学部門, 准教授 (20403892)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 山本 真有子 高知大学, 教育研究部医療学系臨床医学部門, 助教 (20423478) ; 中島 英貴 高知大学, 教育研究部医療学系臨床医学部門, 講師 (70314995) ; 佐野 栄紀 高知大学, 教育研究部医療学系臨床医学部門, 教授 (80273621) ; 片岡 佐誉 高知大学, 設備サポート戦略室, 技術専門職員 (00437708)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 乾癬 / Stat3 / ランゲルハンス細胞 / MHC-class II / 接触皮膚炎

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Firstly, we examined the development of contact dermatitis in psoriasis lesions in which LC is involved in the pathogenesis. Sensitization of psoriasis-induced areas of psoriasis model mice showed a high degree of skin thickening in the areas of elicitation compared to control mice. Moreover, IMQ-induced psoriasis-like lesions in Langerin-Cre: Zeb2 KO mice were induced to the same extent as in control mice. In addition, migration of LCs in Langerin-Cre: Zeb2 KO mice skin to their lymph nodes was also comparable. Furthermore, IMQ-induced psoriasis-like lesions in LC Cre:MHC class II KO mice were more induced compared to control mice. These findings suggest that psoriasis patients may be prone to contact dermatitis, that LC migration during the establishment of psoriasis-like lesions is regulated by factors other than ZEB2, and that antigen capture via MHC class II of LCs may inhibit the development of psoriasis lesions.

Free Research Field

皮膚科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

乾癬は、欧米で人口の2－4％を占める頻度の高い疾患であり、本邦においても患者数は増加している。IL-23/Th17を中心とした免疫変調は解明されつつあるが、その病態は十分明らかになっていない。我々は、乾癬の免疫病態において重要な役割を担うLCの機能および遊走について検討した。これは乾癬病態の新たな側面を見いだしたものであり、学術的意義は高い。また、乾癬患者は接触性皮膚炎を起こしやすい知見の啓蒙は、社会的に意義があるものと考える。