Elucidation of the pathophysiology of neurological olfactory disorders associated with eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K18723
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56050:Otorhinolaryngology-related
• Research Institution: Teikyo University
• Principal Investigator: KAGOYA RYOJI 帝京大学, 医学部, 助教 (90707762)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 好酸球 / 好塩基球 / 嗅上皮

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis is a typical disease that causes olfactory dysfunction, but the details of its pathophysiology have not been clarified. In the present study, we established a murine model that has severe eosinophil inflammation in the nasal mucosa by inducing a large amount of TSLP, which is a master regulator of eosinophil inflammation, using an active vitamin D3 analog. Using the model, we showed that histological changes in the olfactory epithelium of the mice. In the model, not only infiltration of eosinophils under the nasal mucosa but also infiltration of basophils and M2 macrophages was observed, which reflects the characteristics of human eosinophilic choronic rhinosinusitis.

Free Research Field

鼻科学、アレルギー学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

好酸球性副鼻腔炎は物理的な鼻閉だけでなく嗅神経系に様々な免疫学的影響を与えると考えられるが、ヒトの嗅上皮を採取して解析することは技術的・倫理的にやや困難であるため、優れた動物モデルが必要であった。本研究の成果により、鼻副鼻腔の好酸球性炎症が嗅神経系に与える影響の解析が可能になり、今後、嗅覚障害に対する有効な治療法確立に役立てることができると期待される。