The research group led by Professor Toshio Hattori of International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University, has discovered a new immune response and inflammatory regulatory cell.

A mammalian lectin Galectin-9 (Gal-9) has become known to be a prominent immune regulator; it suppresses pro-inflammatory IL-17-producing helper T cells (Th17) and augments anti-inflammatory Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg). However the cells responsible for producing the lectin have yet to be elusive. We discovered a set of Th cells that express Gal-9 on the surface and secrete Gal-9 by T cell receptor stimulation. The cells, named ThGal-9, regulated Th17/Treg development　in a manner sensitive to a Gal-9 antagonist but insensitive to the blockades of IL-10 or TGF-β even though the cells produce these regulatory cytokines together with Gal-9. The discovery of ThGal-9 will improve our understanding of immune regulation and may provide clinical utilities for diagnosis or cell-based therapy in the future. This achievement has been published online in Plos ONE on November 8, 2012. The paper's title is "Cell Surface Galectin-9 Expressing Th Cells Regulate Th17 Foxp3 + Treg Development by Galectin-9 Secretion". This research study has been conducted in cooperation with Professor Emeritus Mitsuomi Hirashima and Assistant Professor Toshiro Niki of Kagawa University.

More information (Japanese)

[Contact]

Professor Toshio Hattori

Laboratory of Disaster-related Infectious Disease, Disaster Medical Science Division,

International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University

TEL: +81-22-717-8220

E-mail: hattori*irides.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

(Public Relations)

Associate Professor Fuji Nagami

Public Relations Office of Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine

TEL: +81-22-717-7908

FAX: +81-22-717-8187

E-mail: f-nagami*med.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)