Elucidation of molecular mechanism of hematological malignancies associated with persistent viral infection

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26461423
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Hematology
• Research Institution: Kochi University
• Principal Investigator: DAIBATA Masanori 高知大学, 教育研究部医療学系基礎医学部門, 教授 (50263976)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): TAKEUCHI Hiroaki 高知大学, 教育研究部医療学系臨床医学部門, 講師 (90346560)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: リンパ腫 / ウイルス / 感染 / 炎症

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We aimed to find candidate genes associated with pathogenesis of malignant lymphomas in the context of chronic inflammation and viral infection. Pyothorax-associated lymphoma (PAL) develops in patients with a long-standing pyothorax caused by an artificial pneumothorax created for previous treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. The most striking feature of this lymphoma is that the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome is present in the lymphoma cells of all cases. Thus, PAL is representative of lymphoma associated with viral infection and chronic inflammation. Our PCR array analysis identified several upregulated genes in PAL cells compared with other EBV-negative lymphoma cells. The upregulated genes included genes encoding cytokines and chemokines/chemokine receptors, such as IL12a and CCL4/CCR5, and genes involved in signaling pathways that are associated with cell proliferation. These genes may be potential therapeutic targets for lymphomas associated with chronic inflammation.

Free Research Field

血液内科学、ウイルス学、腫瘍学、感染症学