Investigation of lymphoid follicle structures in the skin as ectopic lymphoid tissues, iSALT

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K16227
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 53050:Dermatology-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: KOGAME TOSHIAKi 京都大学, 医学研究科, 特定講師 (00744111)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 三次リンパ組織 / B細胞 / 皮膚免疫 / MALT / iSALT

Outline of Final Research Achievements

we analyzed skin diseases of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data including public data repository which include significant B cell infiltration. We identified B cells expressing factors specific to intestinal B cells, such as J-chain and MZB1. Furthermore, screening with immunostaining in skin diseases with lymphoid follicular hyperplasia, inflammatory skin diseases, and skin tumor samples revealed these B cells within lymphoid follicles, including reactive lymphoid follicles near tumors. Additionally, we observed the infiltration of MZB1-positive cells in diseases without lymphoid follicles, such as atopic dermatitis and alopecia areata. We will investigate the physiological significance of these cells in future studies.

Free Research Field

皮膚科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまで、その浸潤数の少なさから皮膚疾患におけるB細胞の意義はあまり研究されてこなかった。今回、皮膚に腸型のB細胞の同定に成功し、更にそれが複数の皮膚疾患に存在する可能性を示した。今後このB細胞の機能や生理学的意義を明らかにすることで、新規の病態生理の理解や治療への介入の可能性をもっている。また、なぜ腸に分布するはずのB細胞が皮膚に分布するのかという、医学的意義を超えた生物学的な興味深さも持っている。