Regulation of immune response by aging-induced Gas6/Axl axis.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H02929
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 53030:Respiratory medicine-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Shibata Takehiko 東京医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (00739196)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 感染症 / 重症化 / 加齢 / Gas6 / Axl / 細胞老化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Elderly individuals are more susceptible to severe infections. This study focused on growth arrest-specific protein (Gas6), which increases with aging, to elucidate the mechanisms of disease severity. Aged mice had higher Gas6 levels and a lower survival rate after influenza virus infection compared to young mice. Administration of the Axl inhibitor BGB324 restored early interferon production and improved survival rates in aged mice. These results suggest that Gas6 suppresses the early immune response and triggers excessive inflammation. Additionally, it is suggested that Gas6 is induced in association with cellular senescence.

Free Research Field

感染免疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、加齢に伴い誘導されるGas6/Axlシグナルによる感染症重症化機構を解明した。これにより、老化と免疫応答の関連性に関する新たな知見を提供し、老化現象の理解を深める。また、Gas6やその受容体Axlを標的とした感染症の治療法の開発が期待される。特に高齢者の感染症予防や治療に応用することで、感染症による重症化を防ぎ、健康寿命の延伸に貢献する可能性がある。