Investigation of local immunopathogenesis in human ocular inflammatory diseases by advanced approach

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K09723
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56060:Ophthalmology-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Yawata Nobuyo 九州大学, 医学研究院, 准教授 (90315812)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 園田 康平 九州大学, 医学研究院, 教授 (10294943) ; 武田 篤信 九州大学, 医学研究院, 准教授 (40560313) ; 長谷川 英一 九州大学, 大学病院, 助教 (70636521)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ぶどう膜炎 / 網羅的解析 / CyTOF / ヒト免疫 / 局所炎症

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to elucidate the pathogenesis of human ocular inflammation using mass cytometry, Cytometry Time of Flight (CYTOF), a single-cell analysis. Many of the cells accumulating in the eye in acute retinal necrosis and in the cerebrospinal fluid of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease were highly activated, and we were able to detect ccellular subsets that were more frequent than in peripheral blood. In addition, features such as a significantly lower frequency of mucosa-associated invariant T cells in the peripheral blood of persistent group of VKH disease were also revealed (Yamana et al., Mucosal Immunol2022). The peripheral blood mononuclear cell profile of Behcet disease revealed characteristic subsets at each stage of the disease.

Free Research Field

眼科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年発展しているシングルセル解析技術を用い、微量のヒト眼炎症検体や末梢血を網羅的に解析し、炎症局所に集積する炎症細胞の特徴や炎症再燃に関与する炎症病態を明らかにできた意義は大きく、ぶどう膜炎治療の発展や今後本分野の研究の発展にも貢献すると考えられる。