Novel pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis: immune checkpoint molecules and complements regulatory molecules and their development into therapy

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K07421
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 52020:Neurology-related
• Research Institution: Ishikawa Prefectural Nursing University
• Principal Investigator: Iwasa Kazuo 石川県立看護大学, 看護学部, 教授 (10345613)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 吉川 弘明 金沢大学, 保健管理センター, 教授 (10272981) ; 古川 裕 金沢大学, 附属病院, 助教 (50881033) ; 野崎 一朗 金沢大学, 附属病院, 助教 (60736495)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 重症筋無力症 / 骨格筋 / 補体制御因子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we demonstrated that the expression of the complement regulatory proteins in the skeletal muscle of myasthenia gravis was involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. The expression of complement regulatory proteins in skeletal muscle was found to be clustered at the neuromuscular junction. In myasthenia gravis, a negative correlation was found between the expression level of the complement regulatory proteins and the clinical symptom score. This indicates that the expression of the complement regulatory proteins at the neuromuscular junction of skeletal muscle is involved in the pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis and provides a new insight into the pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis.

Free Research Field

神経免疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の成果は重症筋無力症の骨格筋において、病態に関わる神経筋接合部の破壊を制御する補体制御因子の発見となった。この発見は、重症筋無力症の新たな病態の理解を深めたのみでなく、新規治療法の開発につながることが期待でき、今後の治療に向けた更なる研究が望まれる。