Mechanism of glycan change involved in the activation of innate immunity

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26440066
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Functional biochemistry
• Research Institution: Rikkyo University
• Principal Investigator: YAMAMOTO(HINO) MIKI (日野美紀) 立教大学, 理学部, ポストドクトラルフェロー (40301783)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): GOTO Satoshi 立教大学, 理学部, 教授 (60280575)
• Research Collaborator: KASE Sawako 立教大学, 理学研究科, 大学院生
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 自然免疫 / 糖鎖修飾

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The innate immune system is the first line of defense encountered by invading pathogens. We have found that immune challenge leads to change host glycosylation, which involved in full activation of immune response. Our aim in this study was to reveal the mechanism of the host glycan change by immune challenge.
In this study, we found that glucosaminoglycan (GAG) regulates immune activity. GAG suppresses hyper-activation of the Toll pathway in the steady state. Interestingly, pathogen infection reduces the expression of a GAG synthesizing enzyme to enhance immune responses. These results indicate that GAG plays an important role in both suppression of runaway inflammation and enhancement of immune responses.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学