Elucidation of Natural Killer T cell development in a mice model of rheumatoid arthritis

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K07538
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 49070:Immunology-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Diez Diego 大阪大学, 免疫学フロンティア研究センター, 准教授 (90597741)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: Immunology / Computational Biology / Bioinformatics

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have performed single cell sequencing of the transcriptome, immune repertoire, and proteome for twenty-seven selected proteins of developing NKT cells from the thymus of BALB/c WT and SKG mice. Bioinformatics analysis including clustering and trajectory analysis identified cell states compatible with current knowledge of NKT development in WT mice. Identification of genes and proteins changing along differentiation trajectories found a smooth transition in expression profiles. Analysis of the immune repertoire identified 2% of NKT harbor a non-canonical alpha chain, but identical beta chain gene usage. This suggests that NKT phenotype is determined during beta chain recombination during thymocyte differentiation.

Free Research Field

Computational Biology

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

NKT cells are important regulators of immune responses that differentiate into subtypes with potential opposing effects in health. Understanding the mechanisms regulating NKT differentiation and their relationship to disease can help develop improved therapies.