Investigation of repair mechanisms of tissue injury based on macrophage-triggered innate immune response

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K07824
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 52010:General internal medicine-related
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Kawabe Tsutomu 名古屋大学, 医学系研究科(保健), 教授 (20378219)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 松島 充代子 名古屋大学, 医学系研究科(保健), 講師 (10509665)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: マクロファージ / エフェロサイトーシス / 組織修復

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Phagocytic clearance of apoptotic cells by macrophages, termed efferocytosis, is one of the important functions for tissue repair and resolution of inflammation. It has been reported that impaired efferocytosis was observed in airway diseases such as asthma. In the present study, we investigated the involvement of efferocytosis in type 2 immune responses. NC/Nga mice, which exhibit a type 2-prone immune response, showed decreased phagocytosis of latex beads and efferocytosis of apoptotic cells in bone marrow-derived macrophages compared to BALB/c mice. The clearance rate of apoptotic cells by alveolar macrophages in NC/Nga mice was decreased compared to that in BALB/c mice under normal and inflammatory conditions. These results suggested that impaired efferocytosis might promote type 2 immune responses.

Free Research Field

免疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

組織修復には多くの組織の傷害に共通な機構と、肺や肝臓など、その組織に特異的な機構が必要となる。マクロファージは自然免疫応答の基軸となる細胞で、修復機転の最初の段階においてエフェロサイトーシスと呼ばれる死細胞を含む異物処理を行う。本研究により修復機構で活躍するマクロファージの機能や修復機転の効果的な発動機構、さらには自然免疫に関わるその他の細胞との関連が明らかになり、統合的に理解することができれば、多くの組織の傷害に共通な修復機構を効果的に誘導することが可能となる。また、現行の治療法に補完的に組み合わせることにより、より効果的な治療成績が期待できる。