Epigenetic regulation of obesity-associated psoriasis

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K08341
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 53050:Dermatology-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Shibata Sayaka 東京大学, 医学部附属病院, 准教授 (50613105)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 佐藤 伸一 東京大学, 医学部附属病院, 教授 (20215792)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: エピジェネティクス / 皮膚免疫 / 乾癬 / 慢性炎症性疾患

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Psoriasis is known to be influenced by environmental factors, particularly dietary factors, which can exacerbate skin inflammation. This study examines how dietary factors may lead to changes in the epigenome of cells, potentially causing them to acquire inflammatory functions. We focused on the effects of high-fat diets as well as amino acid-restricted diets on the severity of skin inflammation. Our findings suggest that high-fat diets worsen skin inflammation, while restricting amino acid reduces it. Metabolites due to the restricion of amino acid may lead to alterations in epigenetic modifications. This study was also supported by Platform for Advanced Genome Science to perform single-cell analysis for further elucidation of these mechanisms.

Free Research Field

皮膚免疫、エピジェネティクス

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

研究成果の学術的意義として、食餌性因子の代謝産物が細胞のエピジェネティクス環境を変化させ、遺伝子発現を制御する可能性を提示できた。また、研究成果の社会的意義として、食餌性因子が乾癬の増悪に与える影響を明らかにすることにより、食事療法を通じた乾癬の予防の重要性や新たな治療法を提示できた。これらの結果により、摂取する食事によっては、乾癬の新規発症や増悪を抑制し、予防医療へと発展することが期待されると考えられる。