Immunophenotyping based on semaphorin in patients with autoimmune disease by using CyTOF

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K17905
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 54020:Connective tissue disease and allergy-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Morita Takayoshi 大阪大学, 医学系研究科, 助教(常勤) (90728685)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: SLE / セマフォリン / マスサイトメトリー / Ki-67

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, semaphorin expression in patients with SLE was assessed using CyTOF, instrument for analyzing immune cells in detail. It found that semaphorin 4D is strongly expressed on CD8 T cells in healthy donors and that its expression may be reduced in patients with SLE. This suggests that CD8 T cells in patients with SLE may be activated in its pathology. In this analysis, we were also able to identify the potential usefulness of proliferative activity markers, Ki-67, as one indicator to assess the immune cell population.

Free Research Field

免疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまではSLE病態を評価する上で液性因子の測定や免疫細胞集団の割合が測定されてきた。本研究においては、SLE病態における免疫細胞をセマフォリンや増殖活性マーカーで免疫細胞の活動性をCyTOFを用いて包括的に評価することができる可能性を見出した。この技術を用いることで今まで臨床的に十分捉えきれなかったSLE患者の免疫動態をより詳細に把握することができるようにると考えている。