Investigation for the pathogenesis of IgG4-related disease

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24591447
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: 膠原病・アレルギー・感染症内科学
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: SATO Yasuharu 岡山大学, 保健学研究科, 准教授 (00579831)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: IgG4-related disease / Pathogenesis

Outline of Final Research Achievements

IgG4-related disease is a systemic disorder with unique clinicopathologic features and uncertain etiological features and is frequently related to allergic disease. T helper 2 (Th2) and regulatory T cell (Treg) cytokines have been reported to be upregulated in the affected tissues; thus, the production of these cytokines by Th2 and Treg cells has been suggested as an important factor in the pathogenesis of IgG4-related disease. However, it is not yet clear which cells produce these cytokines in IgG4-related disease, and some aspects of the disorder cannot be completely explained by T cell-related processes. We found that the mast cells were strongly positive for these cytokines in IgG4-related disease. Our results indicate that mast cells produce Th2 and Treg cytokines in tissues affected by IgG4-related disease and possibly play an important role in disease pathogenesis.

Free Research Field

病理学