Applying the anti-inflammatory phenotypes of macrophages to reverse salivary gland inflammation in mice with abnormal phosphatase SHP2 expression

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18728
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57060:Surgical dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Nagasaki University
• Principal Investigator: Montenegro Raudales Jorge Luis 長崎大学, 医歯薬学総合研究科(歯学系), 客員研究員 (10866990)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: Sjogren's syndrome / Salivary glands / Chronic inflammation

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Sjogren’s syndrome (SS) affects the salivary glands leading to dry mouth and a reduced quality of life in many patients, therefore, many novel cell-based therapies to prevent or repair salivary gland function loss are being studied. The salivary glands of SS patients present chronic inflammation due to over production of inflammatory molecules. Many animal models are used to perform research on SS, including the MRL/lpr mouse and the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse. We have developed a therapy that consists of using anti-inflammatory cells called m2 macrophage-like cells. We aimed to study if M2 macrophage-like cell transplantation could reduce the inflammation in salivary glands in Sjogren’s syndrome mouse models. Our results showed that m2 macrophage-like cell transplantation in these mice reduced inflammatory gene expression.
This suggests that m2 macrophage-like cells are an effective therapy for alterations in salivary glands caused by immune disorders such as Sjogren's syndrome.

Free Research Field

組織工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これらの結果は、m2マクロファージが唾液腺の炎症を抑制するのに効果的であり、唾液腺組織の破壊を減らし、萎縮と口渇を防ぐことができることを示唆しています。 口渇は、嚥下困難、虫歯、口腔粘膜の炎症など、多くの口腔合併症を引き起こします。したがって、この治療法は、シェーグレン症候群の患者の生活の質を大幅に改善することができます。 将来的には、この治療法は唾液腺の変化以外の他の炎症性疾患にも適用される可能性があります。