Functional role of acetylcholine receptors in the eosinophilic airway inflammation

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K09860
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56050:Otorhinolaryngology-related
• Research Institution: Kansai Medical University
• Principal Investigator: KANDA Akira 関西医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (70375244)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 小林 良樹 関西医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (10375298)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 好酸球 / 好酸球性副鼻腔炎 / 喘息 / アレルギー / アセチルコリン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Eosinophils play an important role in the allergic rhinitis, asthma, and eosinophilic rhinosinusitis (ECRS). Of note, 20-60% patients with ECES are accompanied with asthma. Although similar pathologic characteristics and histological appearance are shown in the nose and lung, the mechanism of relationship between nasal and lung inflammation has been unclear. We have shown a mechanism an interaction between upper and lower airway by nasal-bronchial reflex with cholinergic nerve such as nervus vagus, suggesting contribution of neural inflammation in the inflamed site by acetylcholine (ACh). Here, we investigated the expression of nicotinic α 4 and 7ACh receptor (α4nAChR and α7nAChR).

Free Research Field

好酸球性炎症

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

既存の抗コリン剤は、抗炎症作用に関しては明らかになっていない。その理由として、α4nAChRとα7nAChRの両方に作用するためと推察される。そこで、本研究を継続することで、α4nAChRの好酸球性気道炎症への役割が解明されるだけでなく、同分子をターゲットにした選択的抗コリン剤の開発につながると期待される。