Analysis of novel metabolic disorder regulating cytokine

• Project/Area Number: 15K08419
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Experimental pathology
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: SAIJOU EIKO 東京大学, 定量生命科学研究所, 技術職員 (60376647)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2018)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,940,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,140,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,040,000 (Direct Cost: ¥800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥240,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,690,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥2,210,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥510,000)
• Keywords: サイトカイン / カテコールアミン / オンコスタチンM / IL-31 / ノルアドレナリン / 抗肥満 / 肥満 / 褐色脂肪組織 / アデノ随伴ウイルス / OSMR / 副腎

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigate the role of IL-31 on obesity-induced metabolic disorders. Interestingly, overexpression of IL-31 in diet-induced obese mice significantly reduces body weight, epididymal WAT weight and blood leptin level. Furthermore, Overexpression of IL-31 significantly elevates blood concentration of noradrenaline, suggesting that IL-31 exerts anti-obesity effect via catecohlamine induced thermogenesis in BAT. Addition of IL-31 on ex vivo culture of adrenal glands has markedly released noradrenaline, indicating IL-31 directly targets the adrenal glands. In conclusion, IL-31 is new attractive target for treating obesity.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

安全かつ健康的に肥満を解消する「夢のやせ薬」は未だ存在していない。IL-6ファミリーサイトカイン、IL-31は脂肪分解を引き起こすにもかかわらず、産生された遊離脂肪酸がインスリン抵抗性を引き起こさない。体重減少とインスリン抵抗性の改善を引き起こす新たな抗肥満薬の候補となりうるため、解析を行った。