Mechanism of brain Treg-microglia interaction to promote brain tissue repair

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H02719
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 49030:Experimental pathology-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Ito Minako 九州大学, 生体防御医学研究所, 准教授 (70793115)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 制御性T細胞 / 脳梗塞 / オキシトシン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

FOXP3+ regulatory T (Treg) cell acquire brain tissue-specific characteristics during the chronic stroke phase and contribute to neurological symptom recovery. Tregs in the periphery change their phenotype during the chronic stroke phase and can reduce inflammation and infarct volume during the recurrent stroke. Tregs increased in the brain during the acute phase of recurrence, and T cell receptor repertoire analysis revealed that Tregs recognizing identical antigens during the initial stroke also infiltrated the recurrent side of the subsequent stroke. The Treg increase depends on CCR4/CCL17 axis during stroke recurrence. These results suggest that Tregs infiltrate rapidly the brain with antigens and chemokines during stroke recurrence, contributing to immunosuppression and tissue repair. Unexpectedly, oxytocin increases in the brain after a stroke, plays an essential role in tissue repair and inflammation inhibition, and contributes to ischemic resistance during recurrence.

Free Research Field

神経免疫

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

Tregの誘導やオキシトシンを利用した、脳梗塞の新規治療法の開発につながることが期待される。