Pathological roles of mesenchymal stem cells in rheumatoid arthritis

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26860746
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Collagenous pathology/Allergology
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical and Dental University
• Principal Investigator: Saito Tetsuya 東京医科歯科大学, 医歯(薬)学総合研究科, 助教 (10360926)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 関節リウマチ / 滑膜線維芽細胞 / 間葉系幹細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In rheumatoid arthritis, synovial fibroblasts produce a variety of inflammatory cytokines and tissue-degrading enzymes, leading to cartilage and bone destruction. The origin of pathogenic synovial fibroblasts has not yet been elucidated, although bone marrow-derived cells and normal synovial fibroblasts are suspected to be a candidate. In this study, we revealed that resident mesenchymal cells in the synovial tissues are a progenitor of pathogenic synovial fibroblasts, indicating that synovial resident mesenchymal stem cells are a candidate of progenitors.

Free Research Field

膠原病、関節リウマチ