Role of innate immunity in the pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24591135
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Respiratory organ internal medicine
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: KOARAI AKIRA 東北大学, 大学病院, 助教 (80458059)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 慢性閉塞性肺疾患 / 自然免疫 / toll様受容体 / マクロファージ / 気道上皮 / 増悪 / タバコ煙

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Toll-like receptors (TLRs), which recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns, have a key role in the innate immune system.　In the present study, we demonstrated that cigarette smoke, which is involved in the pathogenesis of COPD, augments the expression and responses of TLR3 in human macrophages and airway epithelial cells, and this may contribute to neutrophilic airway inflammation, parenchymal destruction, and mucus hypersecretion in the lungs of smokers and patients with COPD.

Free Research Field

医歯薬学