Research outcomes
Hiroki Shuya (D3) from the laboratory of Molecular Immunobiology has received best poster award at Immunology Summer School, Japanese Society of Immunology ( August 28, 2025).
Hiroki Shuya (D3) from the laboratory of Molecular Immunobiology has received best poster award at Immunology Summer School, Japanese Society of Immunology ( August 28, 2025).
The immune system protects the body by eliminating harmful bacteria through an inflammatory response. While essential, excessive inflammation can cause autoimmune diseases and chronic disorders, so strict regulation is vital.
In this study, we focused on macrophages, key immune cells that initiate inflammation. We discovered about 2,000 types of circular RNAs (circRNAs), a special form of RNA, expressed in these cells. Some of them changed their levels during inflammation.
By artificially increasing these circRNAs and testing their effects, we identified a new circRNA that boosts production of the inflammatory molecule interleukin-6 (IL-6). This finding suggests that circRNAs may act as novel regulators of inflammation and could lead to new diagnostic tools or treatments for inflammatory diseases.
( September 04, 2025 )
