Involvement of apoptosis inhibitory factor of macrophage (AIM) on pathophysiological condition of chronic liver disease

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26670385
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Gastroenterology
• Research Institution: Kagoshima University
• Principal Investigator: TSUBOUCHI Hirohito 鹿児島大学, 医歯(薬)学総合研究科, 客員研究員 (60145480)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): UTO Hirofumi 鹿児島大学, 大学院医歯学総合研究科, 准教授 (20347058)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): IBUSUKI Rie 鹿児島大学, 大学院医歯学総合研究科, 助教 (90747015)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: アポトーシス抑制因子 / AIM / C型慢性肝炎 / 非アルコール性脂肪性肝疾患 / 肝線維化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Apoptosis inhibitor of macrophage (AIM) is a protein that is specifically produced and secreted from macrophages, and is involved in metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. However, the association between AIM and chronic liver disease is unclear. In this study, we found that the serum AIM concentration is correlated with liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In addition, we showed that AIM and adipocytokines are associated with the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C and NAFLD through different mechanisms. Furthermore, liver fibrosis induced by a choline-deficient amino acid-defined diet was promoted in mice expressing macrophage-specific AIM. These results show that AIM is both a candidate marker and a stimulatory factor for liver fibrosis in chronic liver disease.

Free Research Field

消化器内科