Elucidating the mechanism of autoimmune induction by self-reactive T and regulatory T cells

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26860331
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Immunology
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Tanaka Atsushi 大阪大学, 免疫学フロンティア研究センター, 特任助教(常勤) (00724105)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 免疫自己寛容 / 自己免疫疾患

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this research is to elucidate the molecular mechanism of the induction of autoimmunity as a disequilibrium of regulatory T cells and self-reactive T cells. For this aim, we have developed mice with varying structural alterations of ZAP-70 or quantitative changes in ZAP-70 expression levels to control T-cell receptor signaling levels. In these mice, we have analyzed the development of regulatory T cells and self-reactive T cells as well as their changes in TCR repertoires. We have also analyzed cellular functions of respective subsets in the periphery. Our analyses on these mice have suggested that there is a critical range of TCR signaling leading to spontaneous induction of autoimmunity.

Free Research Field

免疫学