The role of Angptl2 expression in lung for interstitial pneumonia

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25461192
• 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: Kumamoto University
• Principal Investigator: Endo Motoyoshi 熊本大学, 大学院生命科学研究部, 助教 (40398243)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): INOUE Hiromasa 鹿児島大学, 大学院医歯学総合研究科, 教授 (30264039)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 間質性肺炎 / Angptl2 / ブレオマイシン肺臓炎

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is defined as progressive interstitial pneumonia with poor prognosis. However, the mechanism of it remains unclear. Angiopoietin-like protein 2 (Angptl2) is a chronic inflammatory mediator, which when deregulated is associated with various pathologies. However, little was known about its potential lung function. To examine the role of Angptl2 for lung function, we generated a rabbit monoclonal antibody that specifically recognizes mouse Angptl2 and then evaluated protein expression in mouse lung tissue. We observed abundant Angptl2 expression in both alveolar epithelial type I and type II cells and in alveolar macrophages under normal conditions. Next, we examined Angptl2 lung function in a mouse interstitial pneumonia model and found that Angptl2 deficiency made fibrosis caused by bleomycin exacerbated fibrosis. Overall, our findings suggest that Angptl2 expression in lung epithelial cells may function in repair of damaged tissue.

Free Research Field

分子細胞生物学、呼吸器内科学