Mechanism elucidation of immunostimulatory action by interleukin-15 in the elderly with cancer-bearing condition

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K09008
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 55020:Digestive surgery-related
• Research Institution: Kobe University
• Principal Investigator: Suzuki Satoshi 神戸大学, 医学研究科, 医学研究員 (30457080)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 掛地 吉弘 神戸大学, 医学研究科, 教授 (80284488) ; 山下 公大 神戸大学, 医学部附属病院, 特命准教授 (80535427) ; 井上 茂亮 神戸大学, 医学研究科, 特命教授 (30582209)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 高齢者 / 胃癌・大腸癌 / IL-15 / サルコペニア / 免疫賦活 / T細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Regarding T cell senescence, we reported on a mouse peritoneal seeding model. PD-1 and CTLA-4 were elevated with T cell senescence in the peritoneal seeding model. Senescence may be involved in disease progression, and increased bone marrow-derived immunosuppressive cells are involved in the disseminated pathology, suggesting that inflammatory bone marrow shift may be involved in the exacerbation.
Studies related to aged mice have led to the acquisition of aged mice, and data related to immune activation and amelioration of tumor growth by IL-15 administration have been obtained; we are in the process of investigating the mechanism of immune activation by IL-15 administration; we are also in the process of investigating the mechanism of tumor growth by IL-15 administration. We want to continue our research and clarify the mechanism of immune senescence.

Free Research Field

消化器外科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

高齢者の免疫機能に焦点をあてた解析研究は、近々遭遇する超高齢化社会における最重要課題である。担癌高齢者の免疫機能解析をもとに新たな治療法を模索した基礎研究は少なく、腫瘍研究の多くは腫瘍への直接的な抑制効果に重点を置くが、本研究では免疫老化に対する免疫賦活機序に焦点を当て、脆弱な高齢癌患者にも導入・継続が可能な治療法を探索することが大きな特徴であり、社会的意義が高いものである。