The role of AIM-associated phagocytosis in ocular diseases.

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K16213
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 49030:Experimental pathology-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Taniguchi Kaori 東京大学, 大学院医学系研究科(医学部), 特任助教 (30746920)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 自己由来異物 / 眼球疾患 / 貪食細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

AIM is a key molecule for clearance of self-pathogens by phagocytic system in peripheral tissue. In the present study, we sought to investigate the role of AIM in ocular tissue, which is restricted region by blood-retinal barrier (BRB) like the CNS.
AIM was mainly detected in ciliary body, and passed through BRB. A portion of AIM derived from blood was incorporated by microglia, and majority of AIM migrated into pigment epithelium in the ciliary body. These results suggest AIM secretion into aqueous humor and that AIM possibly contribute to the ocular tissue homeostasis. Although the complete mechanisms still remain elusive, aged or retinal degenerative animal models also demonstrated that AIM probably governs clearance of self-pathogens including debris and dead cells within ocular tissue. Further studies using ocular disease models combined with AIM injection or AIM-overexpression system are warranted for investigation of precise mechanisms.

Free Research Field

分子生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の目的は、末梢組織恒常性維持の要であるAIMによる内因性異物除去機構が、BRBにより守られた環境である眼球組織においても機能するか検証し、種々の眼球疾患制御へと発展させることである。
本研究により今回得られた結果はAIMの眼球組織恒常性維持への寄与、さらには加齢や網膜変性等の病態モデルにおける異物除去機能を示唆するものである。今後の研究により眼球におけるAIM機能の全容が解明されれば、従来の対症療法を主とした治療法に対し、「内因性物質であるAIMによる異物除去」という眼球疾患制御への新たなアプローチの提案が可能となる。この点において社会的にも学術的にも非常に有意義なものと考える。