Identification of novel function for transepitherial dendrites in intestinal phagocytes

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K23859
• 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: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: MORITA Naoki 東京大学, 定量生命科学研究所, 助教 (80845107)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-08-30 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 腸管免疫 / 貪食細胞 / 腸内細菌

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A subset of small intestinal myeloid cells, characterized by high expression of CX3CR1, regulates intestinal homeostasis through unique function. CX3CR1+ cells and other types of intestinal myeloid cells extrude their dendrites into the lumen to take up antigens, thereby inducing commensal bacteria and pathogen specific immune responses. it remains unclear other function of transepitherial dendrites in CX3CR1+ phagocytes. we revealed that intestinal CX3CR1+ phagocytes highly and specificaly expressed secretary phospholipase A2 IID (sPLA2IID) which belongs to secretary phospholipase family and there are high amount of sPLA2IID in the lumen of small intestine except cecum and large intestine. We are preparing sPLA2IID-deficient mouse for analyze physiological function of sPLA2IID.

Free Research Field

腸管免疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまで小腸上皮細胞のみが生理活性分子を腸管に直接的に分泌し、正常な腸管恒常性の維持に寄与するという概念に一石を投じる。本課題から小腸CX3CR1+貪食細胞も小腸上皮細胞同様に生理活性分子を小腸管腔中へ分泌することで正常な腸内細菌叢の維持や病原性細菌に対する感染防御に寄与するという、新たな腸管恒常性維持機構の解明が期待される。小腸CX3CR1+貪食細胞が小腸管腔中に分泌するsPLA2-IIDの機能を解析することで、これまでとは異なる新たな腸内細菌叢の制御方法の確立が期待される。