A novel therapeutic strategy targeting IL-9 for endometriosis that regulate proliferation, inflammation, and immunity

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K20995
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0906:Surgery related to the biological and sensory functions and related fields
• Research Institution: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Tarumi Yosuke 京都府立医科大学, 医学部附属病院, 専攻医 (90912288)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-08-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 子宮内膜症 / interleukin-9 / 免疫応答

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrium-like lesions growing outside the uterus. The aberrant peritoneal environment of cytokines might be very closely linked to the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of endometriosis. We investigated the functional roles of IL-9 on endometriosis. The proportion of CD4+IL-9+ T cells in the peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis was significantly higher than that of patients without endometriosis. The expression level of IL-9 receptor in ovarian endometrioma was significantly greater than that in endometrium of the uterus. Furthermore, in cultured stromal cells derived from ovarian endometrioma, IL-9 markedly elevated the expression of IL-8 and COX-2, and IL-9 additively stimulated IL-8 expression in the presence of TNF-α. This study revealed that IL-9 produced by helper T cells contributes to the inflammation in endometriosis. We provided therapeutic potential of IL-9 and IL-9-producing T cells in endometriosis.

Free Research Field

女性内分泌

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究結果により、子宮内膜症におけるIL-9産生ヘルパーT細胞の割合の変化が明らかとなり、IL-9がIL-8を介する子宮内膜症の炎症、進展において重要な働きを持つことが示唆された。IL-9は子宮内膜症の新たな治療対象となる可能性がある。しかし、in vitroの研究による限界も存在するため、今後in vivoでの検討およびIL-9の免疫応答に対する役割について検討が必要である。