Researchers
Hiroshi Watarai – Elucidation and control of the mechanisms underlying chronic inflammation mediated by natural killer T cellsl
Researcher
- Hiroshi Watarai
- Associate Professor, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
Research Theme
Elucidation and control of the mechanisms underlying chronic inflammation mediated by natural killer T cellsl
Although the presence of Th2 cells and eosinophils can explain many features of allergic asthma, this paradigm cannot account for many observations in non-allergic asthma. Natural killer T (NKT) cells have been proposed to contribute immensely to the development of not only allergic but also non-allergic asthma especially induced with viral infection or air pollution. These NKT cells can be categorized into Th2- or Th17-like subtypes, which mediate acute and chronic inflammation by secretion of cytokines and recruitment of other immune cells. The importance of NKT cells especially in non-allergic asthma will be studied and elucidated which are widely accepted to be Th2 independent.