Role of IL-38 in the intestinal fibrosis

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K23844
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0803:Pathology, infection/immunology, and related fields
• Research Institution: Shiga University of Medical Science
• Principal Investigator: Ohno Masashi 滋賀医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (80845488)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-08-30 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 炎症性腸疾患 / 潰瘍性大腸炎 / IL-38 / IL-36シグナル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The expression of IL-38 was strongly upregulated in the colonic mucosa during the active phase of ulcerative colitis. In vivo and in vitro studies suggest that IL-38 may play a role in blocking IL-36 signaling, thereby reducing the expression of neutrophil migration factor in colon epithelial cells and consequently braking neutrophil migration.

Free Research Field

炎症性腸疾患

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本邦における潰瘍性大腸炎患者数は増加の一途を辿っており、特定疾患の中で最も患者数が多くなっており、その病態解明及び治療法の開発は急務である。IL-38そのものなど、IL-36シグナルを遮断する生物学的製剤の開発できれば、潰瘍性大腸炎治療に応用できうると考えられる。