Elucidation of MS4A4A function in rheumatoid arthritis pathogenesis and establishment of basic information for new treatment methods

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K08446
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 54020:Connective tissue disease and allergy-related
• Research Institution: Kitasato University
• Principal Investigator: Yamaoka Kunihiro 北里大学, 医学部, 教授 (20425317)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 松枝 佑 北里大学, 医学部, 助教 (00623208) ; 有沼 良幸 北里大学, 医学部, 講師 (30527437)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: MS4A4A単球 / 関節リウマチ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and MS4A4A expression was analyzed. MS4A4A expression was found only in monocytes and was specifically elevated in rheumatoid arthritis patients. The three monocyte subset fractions all showed significantly higher expression levels, in rheumatoid arthritis patients compared to the other two groups. No correlation with disease activity, which had been observed in previous studies, was found. However, a correlation between serum IL-4 and IFN-γ was observed, suggesting a relationship with the pathophysiology. The correlation with disease activity was partly due to the cross-sectional nature of the study.

Free Research Field

リウマチ学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は関節リウマチの疾患活動性と相関して発現が誘導される遺伝子MS4a4aに着目し、その生体内における役割と関節リウマチ病態への関わりを明らかにすることを目的としている。ヒトとマウスからの検体を用いることで疾患特異性を証明し、MS4a4a発現を治療または疾患活動性マーカーとしての可能性を検証する。未だ治癒させることが困難である関節リウマチにおける新たな阻害標的、または未だ主観的評価に頼る疾患活動性をより客観的に評価することを可能とする研究であり、社会的意義は大きいと考えられる。