Summary of Research Project Results under JSPS FY2001 "Research for the Future Program"

1) Contrary to the current model that interferon-γ (IFN-γ) is during early phase of infection produced by natural killer (NK) cells in response to IL-12 produced by antigen presenting cells (APCs) including dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages, we revealed that interferon-γ (IFN-γ) is produced by APCs in response to IL-12 produced by themselves upon microbial infection. It is likely that APCs play a pivotal role in innate immune responses against microbial infection by producing IFN-γ in an autocrine manner.
2) Using Leishmania major infection, it was demonstrated that a genetic factor(s) determining Th1 vs. Th2 responses against L. major is carried by DCs. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) was shown to be involved in Th1/Th2 regulation.
3) We showed that PI3K is critical in B cell development and functions. Furthermore, we demonstrated that PI3K is essential for the development of gastrointestinal mast cells and immunity against intestinal nematode infection.
4) We identified "cryptopatches" in both small and large intestines, as anatomical sites for differentiation of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes in the gut. Each cryptopatch contains ～1000 c-kit+ progenitor cells that are capable of differentiating into T cells.

1.Research Institution		Keio University

2.Research Area		Life Sciences

3.Research Field		Infectious Diseases and Bioregulation

4.Term of Project		FY 1997 ～ FY 2001

5.Project Number		97L00701

6.Title of Project		Functional Analysis of Cellular Immunity in Infectious Diseases

Name	Institution,Department	Title of Position
Shigeo, Koyasu	Keio University, School of Medicine	Professor

Names	Institution,Department	Title of Position
Yasuo, Ikeda	Keio University, School of Medicine	Professor
Hiromichi, Ishikawa	Keio University, School of Medicine	Professor
Tsutomu, Takeuchi	Keio University, School of Medicine	Professor

Summary of Research Project Results under JSPS FY2001"Research for the Future Program"

Summary of Research Project Results under JSPS FY2001
"Research for the Future Program"