Role of inflammasomes in atherosclerosis and aortic aneurysms

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24790775
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Circulatory organs internal medicine
• Research Institution: Jichi Medical University
• Principal Investigator: USUI Fumitake 自治医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (50585560)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 無菌性炎症 / 自然免疫 / 循環器疾患

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In recent years, much attention has been paid to findings that involvement of chronic inflammation in the lifestyle-related diseases, such as hyperlipidemia, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.In this study, we attempted to elucidate the role of inflammasome which is known to be involved in sterile inflammation in theatherosclerosis and aortic aneurysms. Our findings suggest that caspase-1 plays a critical role in vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis. Also, the importance of the NLRP3 inflammasome in the initial inflammatory responses in abdominal aortic aneurysms. Inflammasome is expected to become a therapeutic target for lifestyle-related diseases to clarify the mechanism .

Free Research Field

炎症学