IL-17-mediated regulation of a granuloma formation in pulmonary mycobacterial infection.

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23590571
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Immunology
• Research Institution: University of the Ryukyus
• Principal Investigator: UMEMURA Masayuki 琉球大学, 熱帯生物圏研究センター, 准教授 (90359985)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): MATSUZAKI Goro 琉球大学, 熱帯生物圏研究センター, 教授 (30229455)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-28 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 結核 / 肉芽腫 / IL-17A / IL-17F

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The IL-17 cytokine family is comprised of six members, IL-17A to F. Both IL-17A and IL-17F have been considered to be linked to various diseases. However, the involvement of IL-17F in mycobacterial infection is unknown. In this study, a possible role of IL-17F in the course of pulmonary mycobacterial infection was investigated.
IL-17A producing cells are detected in a population of T cells. However, IL-17F producing cells were hardly detected in lymphocytes. We found that majority of IL-17F producing cells were the alveolar epithelial cells.
Our results suggest that IL-17F expressed by alveolar epithelial cells support mature granuloma formation at an early stage of pulmonary mycobacterial infection, its contribution decreases at a chronic infection stage possibly because the expansion of granuloma forces the IL-17F-producing epithelial cells away from the center of granulomas.

Free Research Field

感染免疫学