2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Polycomb and Trithorax complexes control epigenetic memory of T helper cells
Project/Area Number |
25860351
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Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
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Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
Research Field |
Immunology
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Research Institution | Chiba University |
Principal Investigator |
ONODERA Atsushi 千葉大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 助教 (10586598)
|
Project Period (FY) |
2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
|
Keywords | 免疫記憶 / 発生・分化 / エピジェネティクス / アレルギー・ぜんそく |
Outline of Final Research Achievements |
One-thirds of Japanese suffer from allergies, which are caused by imbalances in the immune system. We focus on helper T (Th) cells because they are thought to play important roles both in development of the allergic diseases and host defense against pathogens. Polycomb and Trithorax proteins regulate Th cell function via binding to specific genes, and we propose that their spatial interplay is crucial for regulating target gene transcription. In this study, we investigated the roles of Ezh2, one of the Polycomb group proteins, and demonstrated that it functions to prevent unwanted immune responses. We also clarified the roles of Menin, one of the Trithorax group proteins, in the pathogenesis of steroid-resistant asthma. We hope that these findings will be applied to the development of therapies for allergic disease.
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Free Research Field |
医歯薬学
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