Investigating T cells helping autoantibody production in rheumatoid arthritis

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24591449
• 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: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: YAMADA Hisakata 九州大学, 生体防御医学研究所, 准教授 (20363369)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 関節リウマチ / ヘルパーT細胞 / 自己抗体 / 実験的関節炎

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We examined in this study the functions of follicular helper T cells, which induce antibody production by B cells by producing IL-21, in the autoantibody production in rheumatoid arthritis. We found that mice deficient for IL-21 receptor were resistant for the development of experimental arthritis, despite normal induction of follicular helper T cells, due to defective autoantibody production by B cells. In the patient samples, the number of follicular helper T cells in the peripheral blood did not correlate with the disease activity or autoantibody levels. However, IL-21-producing T cells not showing typical phenotypes of follicular helper T cells were abundant in the joint, suggesting their involvement in local autoantibody production and ectopic germinal center formation.

Free Research Field

臨床免疫学