International research collaboration for comprehensive understanding of immune regulation after lung transplantation

Project Gist

International research collaboration for comprehensive understanding of
immune regulation after lung transplantation

Keywords

organ transplantation, lung, immune reaction, rejection

Background and Purpose

The purpose of this project was to comprehensively understand the mechanism of immune reaction after lung transplantation in order to propose new target to prevent or treat rejection. We believe this project will contribute to improve prognosis after lung transplantation, which is worse than that after other solid organ transplantation. The group in Kyoto University and Washington University in St. Louis conducted the study about ischemia-reperfusion injury and chronic rejection from different point of view, which are both significant lung graft injury with immune reaction in early phase and late phase after transplantation. Two groups shared their findings to further develop research.

Project Achievements

In Kyoto University, the role of specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators in pulmonary ischemia-reperfusion injury was investigated and the mouse lung transplant model of chronic rejection induced by low-dose immunosuppressants was established. In Washington University in St. Louis, link between pulmonary ischemia-reperfusion injury and rejection was investigated, which was facilitated by the research fellow from Kyoto University conducting research in Washington University in St. Louis. Two research groups shared and discussed their findings. We also established the clinical database of lung transplantation for future multi-institutional clinical study to evaluate the factors affecting long-term lung graft function.

Future Prospects

Based on the findings about pulmonary ischemia-reperfusion injury and rejection along with established experimental model, we will develop our research to investigate new prophylactic and therapeutic target to regulate chronic lung allograft dysfunction. We will also continue to make an effort to further develop international collaboration basic and clinical research.

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Principal Investigator