Meniscus cell differentiation and meniscal regeneration

• Project/Area Number: 16K10904
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Orthopaedic surgery
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: Furumatsu Takayuki 岡山大学, 大学病院, 講師 (20432651)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2018)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,680,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,080,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000)
• Keywords: 半月板 / 再生医療 / 分化誘導 / 半月板後根 / メカニカルストレス / 膝関節 / 関節病学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The meniscus has several functions to regulate physiological mechanical stresses such as joint load and movements. Cyclic tensile strains can increase type II collagen expression via SOX9-dependent pathway. This study demonstrated that a physiological tensile strain restored type II collagen expression in dedifferentiated meniscus cells, especially in inner meniscus cells.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

スポーツや加齢により半月板が損傷されると、一部の軽微な断裂を除いてそのほとんどが自然治癒しにくく、膝関節痛や違和感などに長期間にわたって悩まされるとともに、変形性膝関節症を進行させる危険性が高まる。また、安易に半月板部分切除術などを受けた場合、失われた半月板組織が再生することはないと考えられている。本研究は、半月板の修復を促進させるとともに、日本の医療で現在解決されていない半月板欠損に対する新規治療を探求するものである。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Hyaluronan stimulates chondrogenic gene expression in human meniscus cells. (2017)
  • Author(s): Tanaka T, Furumatsu T, Miyazawa S, Fujii M, Inoue H, Kodama Y, Ozaki T.
  • Journal Title: Connective Tissue Research Volume: 58 Pages: 520-530
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Hyaluronan stimulates chondrogenic gene expression in human meniscus cells. (2016)
  • Author(s): Tanaka T, Furumatsu T, Miyazawa S, Fujii M, Inoue H, Kodama Y, Ozaki T.
  • Journal Title: Connect Tissue Res Volume: 29 Issue: 6 Pages: 1-11
  • DOI: 10.1080/03008207.2016.1264944
  • Peer Reviewed / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Presentation] ROCK阻害により半月板inner細胞におけるCOL2A1発現は増強する－SOX9・Smad3経路の役割－ (2017)
  • Author(s): 古松毅之、藤井政孝、児玉有弥、田中孝明、井上博登、呂智超、宮澤慎一、尾﨑敏文
  • Organizer: 日本整形外科学会
• [Presentation] 半月板修復を目指す医療の現状 (2017)
  • Author(s): 古松毅之、児玉有弥、釜付祐輔、前原亜美、尾﨑敏文
  • Organizer: 日本結合組織学会
• [Presentation] Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction affects the length and extrusion of the medial meniscus. (2016)
  • Author(s): Furumatsu T, Kamatsuki Y, Narazaki S, Kodama Y, Ozaki T.
  • Organizer: SICOT
  • Place of Presentation: Rome, Italy
  • Year and Date: 2016-09-08
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] The anterior cruciate ligament-lateral meniscus complex: A histological study. (2016)
  • Author(s): Furumatsu T, Kodama Y, Miyazawa S, Fujii M, Inoue H, Ozaki T.
  • Organizer: ESSKA
  • Place of Presentation: Barcelona, Spain
  • Year and Date: 2016-05-04
  • Int'l Joint Research