The physiological role of autophagy in the intestinal epithelial cells

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25860158
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: General physiology
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical and Dental University
• Principal Investigator: JUMPEI Asano 東京医科歯科大学, 難治疾患研究所, 特任助教 (70463809)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 上皮機能

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Autophagy is one of the essential systems to degrade denatured-proteins and damaged-organelles in the cytosol, and maintain cellular homeostasis. In this study, we focus on intestinal epithelial cell (iEC) and addressed the role of autophagy in iEC homeostasis under steady-state and stress conditions. The mice in which lack autophagy in iEC show impaired iEC regeneration after irradiation, including the significantly reduction of Lgr5+-intestinal stem cells (ISCs) and dysfunction of mitochondria in transit-amplifying (TA) cells. Our study revealed that Autophagy plays an important role for iEC regeneration through maintaining the homeostasis of Lgr5+- ISCs and TA cells.

Free Research Field

免疫学