Search for traditional drugs and naturally derived compounds that act on immune checkpoints and analyze their effectiveness

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K16393
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 47050:Environmental and natural pharmaceutical resources-related
• Research Institution: Shimane University
• Principal Investigator: Kotani Hitoshi 島根大学, 学術研究院医学・看護学系, 講師 (10594640)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 免疫チェックポイント / 生薬 / 天然物 / PD-1 / PD-L1 / 低分子化合物 / タンパク質間相互作用 / T細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this research, we focused on the mechanism newly discovered in the development of cutting-edge medical technology, and searched for traditional medicines and naturally derived compounds with similar mechanism. However, as a result of research, it has become clear that it is difficult to find a drug that acts as specifically as an antibody drug, and it is difficult to easily replace the antibody drug. However, the decline in immunity with aging and the prevention and treatment of age-related diseases are important issues that should be addressed in a super-aging society, and it is also necessary to develop drugs by an indirect method different from antibody drugs.

Free Research Field

天然物化学・免疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により、抗体医薬品などが特異性が高く、容易に同等なメカニズムを持つ低分子化合物の発見をすることは難しいことが明らかとなった。その点において、高価な抗体医薬品などの生物学的製剤の有用性が示された。しかし、低分子製剤や伝統医薬品など安定性が高く、安価であり、経口投与が可能な医薬品のほうが多くの人々にとって有用であることは間違いないことから、このような医薬品の新しいメカニズムの解析研究も見直されるべきである。最先端の医薬品と昔ながらな医薬品の両輪を進めながら医薬品開発を進める必要がある。