Analysis of the human salivary-gland apoptotic pass way for Sjogren's syndrome.

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25462914
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Pathobiological dentistry/Dental radiology
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: MUROI AZUSA (酒井梓) 東北大学, 歯学研究科, 助教 (90463778)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: IL-18 / シェーグレン症候群 / 唾液腺

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Sjogren’s syndrome is an inflammatory autoimmune disease, predominantly characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of the exocrine glands. In this study, to establish prophylactic and therapeutic strategies for this disorder, we examined the association between interleukin 18 (IL-18) and the apoptosis pathway in the salivary gland tissues of humans.
The HSG cell line expresses caspase-1, which processes the IL-18 precursor protein into its mature form. However, ASC and NLRP3, which together with caspase-1 constitute the imflammasome complex, were not detected in these cells. Furthermore, we detected no change in the activity of intracellular caspase-1, even when the cells were stimulated with ATP and nigericin to induce intracellular K+, a factor known to trigger the imflammasome. Therefore, we infer that the activation of IL-18 in this cell line occurs without the activation of the imflammasome.

Free Research Field

口腔診断学