Novel approach to primary biliary cirrhosis putting focus on deregulated autophagy

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24590409
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Human pathology
• Research Institution: Kanazawa University
• Principal Investigator: SASAKI Motoko 金沢大学, 医学系, 准教授 (70225895)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): SATO Yasunori 金沢大学, 医学系, 講師 (30324073) ; NAKANUMA Yasuni 金沢大学, 医学系, 教授 (10115256)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 病理学 / オートファジー / 細胞老化 / 生体分子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study revealed that deregulated autophagy followed by cellular senescence in biliary epithelial cells (BECs) may be closely related to the abnormal expression of mitochondrial antigens and following autoimmune pathogenesis in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Cell culture study using mouse biliary epithelial cells supported the immunohistochemical findings in human PBC livers, suggesting autophagy of the mitochondrial proteins. Furthermore, this study disclosed that endoplasmic reticulum stress may play a role in the pathogenesis of deregulated autophagy and cellular senescence in biliary epithelial lesions in PBC.

Free Research Field

人体病理学