Regulation and diversity of ligands for NK receptors in immunity and autoimmune diseases

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24590398
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Human genetics
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical and Dental University
• Principal Investigator: NARUSE Taeko 東京医科歯科大学, 難治疾患研究所, 助教 (80422476)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): KIMURA Akinori 東京医科歯科大学, 難治疾患研究所, 教授 (60161551)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: NKレセプターリガンド / ULBP / DNAメチル化 / ゲノム多様性 / 遺伝子発現

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Natural-killer group 2 member D (NKG2D), a C-type lectin molecule, is an activating receptor. In human, UL-16 binding protein (ULBP) / retinoic acid early transcript 1 (REAT1) family are known to encode ligands for NKG2D. The human ULBP gene family is composed of six functional members, ULBP1-ULBP6. In the present study, we found that the ULBP4 expression in colon cancer cell lines were inversly correlated with methylation level of the ULBP4 gene, indicating that the difference in methylation pattern may differently contribute to the regulation of NK function. In addition, we identified polymorphisms in ULBP2 and ULBP5 genes from rhesus and crab-eating macaques. It was suggested that the Old World monkeys are good animal models for developping the immune regulation by ULBPs.

Free Research Field

免疫遺伝学