Analysis of newly identified nucleic acid-recognition molecules in innate immunity

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24590574
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Immunology
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: YANAI Hideyuki 東京大学, 生産技術研究所, 准教授 (70431765)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 自然免疫 / シグナル伝達 / サイトカイン / 核酸 / ノックアウトマウス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Pathogen infection induces robust innate immune responses. Nucleic acids from pathogens such as viruses and bacteria are recognized by nucleic acid-recognition receptors and evokes the activation of innate immune responses. We searched for host cell molecules which are involved in the responses and identified two RNA-binding motif-containing molecules, namely NAS1 and NAS2. In this research we established conditional knockout mice lines of NAS1 and NAS2 and analyzed the contribution of NAS1 and NAS2 to nucleic acid-mediated innate immune responses. Interestingly, we have found that the activation of type I IFN genes and IL-12p40 gene by B-DNA or CpG-B stimulation were impaired in NAS1 KO dendritic cells. In addition, NAS1 KO mice were easily succumbed to HSV-1 infection and Listeria monocytegenes infection. These results indicate that NAS1 is critical to host defense against pathogen infection.

Free Research Field

分子免疫学