May 29, 2024
Tokyo Medical and Dental University
Kyoto University
Keio University
RIKEN
[Highlights]
We have comprehensively elucidated the full-length structure of transcripts (RNA) in immune cells, whose complete picture has long been unclear, through long-read RNA sequencing analysis and have constructed a database (TRAILS).
The discovery of transcripts derived from transposon insertions has significantly advanced our understanding of human genome evolution and immune diversity.
Analysis using TRAILS has paved the way for elucidating the pathogenesis of and developing novel therapies for multifactorial diseases involving the immune system, such as autoimmune diseases and Alzheimer's disease.
A collaborative research group—including Professor Yuta Kochi and Postdoctoral Fellow Jun Inage from the Department of Genome Function and Diversity, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University; Professor Yasushi Ishihama from the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University; Professor Yuko Kaneko from the Department of Internal Medicine (Rheumatology), School of Medicine, Keio University; and Senior Scientist Akari Suzuki, Team Leader Kazuyoshi Ishigaki, and Center Director Kazuhiko Yamamoto from the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences—has developed a transcript database specialized for human immune cells (TRAILS) using long-read RNA sequencing technology to elucidate the mechanisms by which transcript diversity contributes to the development of complex diseases. Through analysis using TRAILS, new pathogenic mechanisms for conditions such as autoimmune diseases have been revealed. The research findings were published online in the international scientific journal Nature Communications on May 28, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (British Summer Time).
For the full press release, please see below.