A research group at Kyushu University discovered for the first time in the world that a protein called EPAS31 plays an important role in the production of IL-1, a substance that causes itching in atopic dermatitis, and elucidated its mechanism of action. ..The development of a new anti-itch drug is expected.
Atopic dermatitis is a national disease that affects 7 to 15% of the population. Since the quality of life is significantly impaired due to "itching", countermeasures are urgently needed. IL-31 is an important itching substance for the onset of atopic dermatitis and is mainly produced by helper T cells, which are a type of lymphocyte, but its production control mechanism was unknown.
The research group focused on the development of severe atopic dermatitis in patients deficient in the molecule DOCK8 and analyzed the function of this protein.As a result, in mice genetically engineered to prevent DOCK8 expression, IL-31 production was significantly enhanced and severe dermatitis developed spontaneously.From this, it was found that DOCK8 has a function of suppressing IL-31 production.Furthermore, analysis of the IL-8 production control mechanism using DOCK31-deficient mice revealed that the gene product EPAS1 plays an important role in IL-31 production.
Finally, when the importance of EPAS1 in human helper T cells was examined, it was confirmed that IL-31 production in patients with atopic dermatitis was also dependent on EPAS1.
Currently, the treatment of atopic dermatitis is mainly for external use of steroids and external / internal use of immunosuppressive agents, and there is no drug that can directly control itching.This study reveals that EPAS31 plays an important role in the production of IL-1, an itch-inducing substance that is closely associated with the development of atopic dermatitis.Therefore, the EPAS1-IL-31 pathway is expected to become a new drug discovery target for eliminating itching of atopic dermatitis from the root.
