Epigenetic approach to the elucidation of the molecular pathogenesis of autoimmune disease

2010 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21790321
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Pathological medical chemistry
• Research Institution: The University of Tokushima
• Principal Investigator: YANO Masashi The University of Tokushima, 疾患酵素学研究センター, 技術員 (10531858)
• Project Period (FY): 2009 – 2010
• Keywords: 自己寛容 / 胸腺 / AIRE

Research Abstract

Autoimmune disease is still intractable with unknown mechanisms for the disease. Because AIRE gene has been demonstrated to regulate a large battery of tissue-restricted antigen (TRA) genes from medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs), there is a good hope that elucidating the roles of AIRE would reveal the molecular pathogenesis of autoimmune disease. In this study, we have tried to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the expression of TRA genes regulated by AIRE from mTECs from an epigenetic viewpoint. Especially, we have focused on the function of AIRE in ES cells, since we have discovered its expression in this unique cell-type.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Lymphotoxin signal promotes thymic organogenesis by eliciting RANK expression in the embryonic thymic stroma. (2011)
  • Author(s): Mouri Y, Yano M, Shinzawa M, Shimo Y, Hirota F, Nishikawa Y, Nii T, Kiyonari H, Abe T, Uehara H, Izumi K, Tamada K, Chen L, Penninger JM, Inoue J, Akiyama T, Matsumoto M.
  • Journal Title: J.Immunol. 186 Pages: 5047-5057
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Biphasic Aire expression in early embryos and in medullary thymic epithelial cells prior to end-stage terminal differentiation. (2010)
  • Author(s): Nishikawa Y, Hirota F, Yano M, Kitajima H, Miyazaki J-i, Kawamoto H, Mouri Y, Matsumoto M.
  • Journal Title: J.Exp.Med. 207 Pages: 963-971
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] Aireは初期胚と終末分化初期にある胸腺髄質上皮細胞との2相性発現を示す (2010)
  • Author(s): 西川裕美子、廣田史子、矢野雅司、毛利安宏、松本満
  • Organizer: 第9回四国免疫フォーラム
  • Place of Presentation: 愛媛大学医学部、愛媛県東温市
  • Year and Date: 2010-06-19
• [Presentation] Roles of NIK in thymic epithelial cells for the establishment of central tolerance. (2009)
  • Author(s): Mouri Y, Yano M, Matsumoto M.
  • Organizer: 12th International TNF Conference
  • Place of Presentation: San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Madrid, Spain.
  • Year and Date: 2009-04-26
• [Remarks] ホームページ等