Identification of Diagnostic Markers, Pathogenesis Analysis, and Development of Treatment Methods for Autoimmune Hypothalamus-Hypophysitis

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K08919
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 54040:Metabolism and endocrinology-related
• Research Institution: Fujita Health University
• Principal Investigator: Sugimrua Yoshihisa 藤田医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (50456670)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 藤沢 治樹 藤田医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (50836830)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 自己免疫性下垂体炎

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Through proteomics analysis and other methods, we identified candidate autoantigen proteins that are observed in patients with lymphocytic adenohypophysitis (LAH) and isolated ACTH deficiency (IAD) but not in healthy individuals. For these candidate autoantigens, we created human recombinant proteins and analyzed antigen-antibody reactions using Western blotting with patient and healthy control sera as primary antibodies. We confirmed the proteomics results with Western blotting and identified new autoantibodies as diagnostic markers for LAH and IAD patients.

Free Research Field

内分泌学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

リンパ球性下垂体炎などの自己免疫性視床下部下垂体炎は診断が難しく、確定診断には侵襲的な生検が必要です。この研究では、非侵襲的な診断マーカーとなる自己抗原候補を同定し、特許申請しました。この成果は、診断の容易化により誤診を減らし、患者の治療精度を向上させることに寄与します。また、学術的な新規性と社会的意義を持ち、将来的な治療法の開発にも繋がる可能性があります。