Development of a novel antifibrotic therapy for pulmonary fibrosis targeting integrins in fibrocytes

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K08181
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 53030:Respiratory medicine-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokushima
• Principal Investigator: NAITO Nobuhito 徳島大学, 大学院医歯薬学研究部(医学域), 助教 (10895931)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 肺線維症 / 線維細胞 / インテグリン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Fibrocytes are considered to be important effector cells in pulmonary fibrosis. The research group to which the principal investigator belongs found that expression of α9 integrin was increased in a subpopulation expressing collagen among a cell population with a higher purity of pulmonary fibrocytes. In this study, we aimed to clarify the role that α9 integrin signaling plays in fibrocytes. When the migration ability of fibrocytes isolated from mouse lung tissue was evaluated, the number of migrating cells was reduced in the group to which anti-α9 integrin antibody was added. When fibrocytes were stimulated with fibronectin, which contains a domain to which α9 integrin binds, and the effect on the expression of collagen and humoral factors was evaluated, there was no change in expression.

Free Research Field

呼吸器・膠原病内科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

α9インテグリンシグナルが線維細胞の遊走を制御し、肺線維症の病態形成にかかわる可能性が示唆された。線維細胞の機能抑制法の新たな基盤を創出し、新たな分子標的抗線維化薬の開発への展開につながるかもしれない。