Role of regulatory plasmablasts pReg in colitis

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15H04813
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Gastroenterology
• Research Institution: Kurume University
• Principal Investigator: MIZOGUCHI Atsushi 久留米大学, 医学部, 教授 (50258472)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 小松 誠和 久留米大学, 医学部, 講師 (50343687)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 制御性B細胞Breg / 制御性形質芽細胞Preg / 炎症性腸疾患 / マウスモデル / インターロイキンー10

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Due to the specific ability of B cells to produce immunoglobulins, B cells were generally believed to contribute always for immune activation. However, IL-10-producing B cells with immune suppressive activity were discovered in 2002, and it is becoming apparent increasingly that IL-10-producing B cells are associated with a wide variety of diseases. In this project, we unexpectedly found that IL-10-producing cells, which were believed as B cells due to the expression pattern of surface markers, rather represent plasmablasts. The IL-10-producing plasmablasts have an ability to produce IgA, exist in the spleen of mice, and expand in mesenteric lymph nodes under an intestinal inflammatory condition. The expanded IL-10-producing plasmablasts then contribute for the improvement of colitis. These findings unveil an unexpected function of plasmablasts in intestinal inflammation.

Free Research Field

腸管免疫