Kiyoharu Fukushima

Assistant Professor, Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University*Profile is at the time of the award.

2023Inamori Research GrantsBiology & Life sciences

Research topics
The dynamism of fibrotic pathology formed by diverse monocyte subsets
Keyword
Summary
Pulmonary fibrosis is a serious disease with approximately half of patients dying within 3-5 years of diagnosis. Intracellular metabolic changes caused by changes in peripheral blood monocyte subsets and local interactions with non-immune cells in fibrosis patients promote the formation of diverse macrophage subsets associated with fibrosis and play an important role in the development and maintenance of fibrosis pathogenesis. In this study, we aim to examine the dynamic dynamism of diverse cell populations by single-cell RNA-seq and spatial gene expression analysis to gain a comprehensive understanding of the identification and differentiation lineage of blood cell subsets involved in fibrosis and their adaptation and differentiation in tissues.

Comment

Pulmonary fibrosis is a refractory condition, marked by an unfavorable prognosis, with nearly 50% of patients succumbing within a span of 3 to 5 years post-diagnosis. Regrettably, a definitive cure for this affliction remains elusive to date. The current investigation aims to shed light on the underlying molecular mechanisms of pulmonary fibrosis, an ailment for which no efficacious therapeutic interventions currently exist. By delineating the pathophysiological underpinnings of this disease, this research endeavors to facilitate the development of novel molecular therapies, based on a deeper comprehension of its molecular etiology.

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Biology & Life sciences