免疫細胞システム研究チーム

研究主分野

 

免疫学

 

研究関連分野

 

生物学 & 生化学 / 分子生物 & 遺伝学 / 微生物学

 

研究テーマ

 

·       2型自然リンパ球(ILC2)の機能解析

·       免疫細胞による脂肪組織恒常性維持機構の解明


 

Role of ILCs in the homeostasis of adipose tissues

ILC2 were originally found in the FALC structure in adipose tissues. It has been shown that numerous immune cells, including macrophages, play important roles in the homeostasis of adipose tissues and that failure of homeostatic regulation in adipose tissues leads to various diseases including insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. We are therefore interested in the role of ILC2 in the homeostasis of adipose tissues. ILC2 constitutively produce the type 2 cytokines IL-5 and IL-13 that are known to act on various immune cells such as macrophages and eosinophils. In addition, regulatory T cells (Treg) are relatively abundant in adipose tissue and are likely involved in the homeostasis of adipose tissue. We study the function of ILC2, Tregs and macrophages in obesity-induced inflammatory responses in adipose tissues to elucidate their role in adipose tissue. We have shown that Tregs present in adipose tissue but not lymphoid tissue express IL-33 receptors and IL-33 plays a critical role in the maintenance of Tregs in adipose tissues.