Development of treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis targeting bacterial-derived apoptosis-promoting peptides

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K16116
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 53030:Respiratory medicine-related
• Research Institution: Mie University
• Principal Investigator: Yasuma Taro 三重大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (80773887)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 特発性肺線維症 / 細菌叢 / アポトーシス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is an incurable disease of unknown etiology. We recently identified corisin, a proapoptotic peptide that triggers acute exacerbation of pulmonary fibrosis. In this study, we prepared a monoclonal antibody that suppresses the activity of corisin and verified its effect on a pulmonary fibrosis mouse model. We have shown that an anticorisin monoclonal antibody ameliorates inflammation, fibrosis and apoptosis of alveolar epithelial cells in the human transforming growth factorβ1 model and the bleomycin model. These results underscore the role of corisin in the pathogenesis of acute exacerbation of pulmonary fibrosis and provide a novel approach to treating this incurable disease.

Free Research Field

免疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

IPFの病態に細菌叢が関与することが報告されてきたが、詳細な分子機構は不明であった。我々は、細菌叢由来のペプチドであるcorisinが肺線維症の病態進行や急性増悪に関与することを初めて明らかにした。これは細菌がペプチドの放出を介して病態に直接的に関与することを示している。本研究成果は、難治性疾患であるIPFの新規治療や新規バイオマーカーの開発につながりうる、大変有意義な研究成果であると考える。