Epidemiologic study of ocular allergic diseases caused by atmospheric particles and development of experimental methods to determine the causes and treatment of these diseases.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H04347
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 63040:Environmental impact assessment-related
• Research Institution: Teikyo University
• Principal Investigator: Mimura Tatsuya 帝京大学, 医学部, 准教授 (70463867)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 溝田 淳 帝京大学, 医学部, 教授 (10239262) ; 吉田 安宏 産業医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (10309958)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 黄砂 / アレルギー性結膜炎 / 花粉

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Eye washes were performed on patients who came to the hospital during the DSS flight season. The collected particles contained many metallic elements and were considered to be DSS components because they contained silicon and aluminum. All subjective ocular symptoms (itching, redness, discharge, foreign body sensation, and watery eyes) were improved by eye rinsing (p<0.05).
C57BL/6J mice were ophthalmically exposed to large DSS, silica, DSS, and pollen. Conjunctival exposure to DSS disrupted the conjunctival and corneal epithelial barriers. Pollen antigen droplets enhanced conjunctival inflammation. This suggests a mechanism by which the epithelial barrier is disrupted by the particulate component and the antigen is more likely to penetrate the subconjunctiva.

Free Research Field

環境因子

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

黄砂飛来シーズンに来院した患者において、金属類を多く含むが黄砂成分が検出され、これらの金属類による黄砂シーズンにおける結膜炎症の惹起に関する機序についてあらたにその可能性が示唆された。動物研究において粒子成分による物理的なバリアー障害が生じ、外界の抗原暴露による獲得免疫後のアレルギー反応が増悪している可能性が示唆された。