2012 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

The epigeneticanalysis of secondary bacterial pneumonia following influenza virus infection

Research Project

Project/Area Number	23790445
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
Allocation Type	Multi-year Fund
Research Field	Experimental pathology
Research Institution	Okayama University
Principal Investigator	ITO Toshihiro 岡山大学, 大学院・医歯薬学総合研究科, 講師 (00595712)
Project Period (FY)	2011 – 2012
Keywords	インフルエンザウィルス / エピジェネティクス / 気道上皮細胞 / マクロファージ / 細菌性肺炎
Research Abstract	The main cause of death in influenza viral infection is secondary bacterial pneumonia. The expression of SET domain bifurcated 2 (SETDB2), an enzyme which leads to gene depression, was increased in both macrophages and bronchial epithelial cells, followed bytype-I interferon (an essential cytokine against viral infection) and influenza viral stimulation itself. The expression of SETDB2is type-I interferon (IFN-I) dependent, and IFN-I receptor knockout mice improved a significant survival compared with wild-type mice in secondary bacterial infectious model. There results suggest that SETDB2 has the potential to be a clinical key to prevent secondary bacterial pneumonia following influenza viral infection.

(3 results)