Loss of RNA modification and autoimmune diseases: a novel mechanism of the SLE pathogenesis

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24659476
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: 膠原病・アレルギー・感染症内科学
• Research Institution: University of Miyazaki
• Principal Investigator: KENMOCHI Naoya 宮崎大学, フロンティア科学実験総合センター, 教授 (00133124)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): TAKAYANAGI Atushi 慶應義塾大学, 医学部, 講師 (80245464)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: RNA修飾 / 自己免疫 / 抗RNA抗体 / リボソームRNA / snRNA / snoRNA / scaRNA / ゼブラフィッシュ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Although RNAs are known to undergo various modifications, the physiological role of RNA modifications remains unknown. Since autoantibodies that bind to ncRNAs have been found in patients with autoimmune diseases, we speculate that RNA modification could be the marker for self-recognition. To investigate such possibility, we generated artificial anti-RNA antibodies that specifically bind to modified RNA molecules and developed zebrafish with loss of RNA modifications. We found that the RNA modification is essential for zebrafish development and dynamically regulates the expression of many relevant genes.

Free Research Field

分子遺伝学