Seminar: 'Double-stranded RNA in Lactic Acid Bacteria Modulates Anti-inflammation and T Cell Differentiation via Interferon-beta' - Dr. Noriko Tsuji

Integrated Open Systems Unit would like to invite you to the seminar by Dr. Noriko Tsuji.

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Date/time: March 27 (Mon) 2:00-3:00pm
Venue: Seminar Room C209, Center Bldg.
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Speaker
Noriko M Tsuji, Ph.D.
Chief Senior Researcher
Immune Homeostasis Lab
Biomedical Research Institute
National Institute of Advanced Industry and Science Technology (AIST)
Japan

Title
Double-stranded RNA in Lactic Acid Bacteria Modulates Anti-inflammation and T Cell Differentiation via Interferon-beta

Abstract
The small intestine harbors a substantial number of commensal bacteria and is sporadically invaded by pathogens. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) of one major commensal species, lactic acid bacteria (LAB), triggered IFN-β production from dendritic cells (DCs) and protected mice from experimental colitis. Further, we clarified that IFN-β production not only improves mucosal immune-homeostasis but also systemic Th1 immunity. We demonstrated that IFN-β secreted in response to LAB enhanced IFN regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) and IRF7 mRNA, which contribute to Il12p35 expression in vitro. Dendritic cells from type I IFN-receptor deficient mice fail to induce IFN-g producing T cells upon recognition of LAB. Theresultant induction of Tbet and IFN-g in CD4⁺ T cells also occurs in vivo, where oral administration of LAB enhances systemic Th1 immunity and suppresses Th2 immune responses. These results identify TLR3 as a sensor to small intestinal commensal bacteria and contribute to the two phases of protective immunity, i.e. maintenance of immunological homeostasis (anti-inflammation) and enhancement of Th1 cellular immunity (anti-infection).

Biography
Dr. Noriko M Tsuji read Biochemistry and Biological Sciences (Applied Biochemistry) and earned Ph.D at the University of Tokyo, Japan by looking at recognition of food allergen epitopes by T cells. She did her post doc with Dr. Richard Flavell at Yale University, USA on innate immune recognition. Then she investigates oral tolerance and antigen-specific regulatory T cells at National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences (NIAS) as a senior researcher and a team leader at Natl Inst Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) and an Open Lab Leader, Research Center for Allergy and Immunology (RCAI), RIKEN (concurrent post). Now she is a chief senior investigator of Biomedical Research Institute at AIST and focuses on immune-modulatory effects of probiotics and intestinal microbial components on both mucosal and systemic immune-homeostasis. Councilors of Japanese Society for Immunology, Japanese Society for Clinical Immunology, Secretary and scientific committee of Japanese Association for Food Immunology (JAFI), director of Japan Association for Food Function, members of International Mucosal Immunology, Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry, the Molecular Biology Society of Japan. She got a Kadota Awards in 2003 and a prize from JAFI in 2014.

Host
Kun-Yi Hsin and Hiroaki Kitano, Integrated Open Systems Unit (Kitano Unit)