Nrf2 reduces radiation mucositis

• Project/Area Number: 16K20224
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Otorhinolaryngology
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Ohkoshi Akira 東北大学, 大学病院, 助教 (70772979)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2018)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,030,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥930,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000)
• Keywords: Nrf2 / 放射線粘膜炎 / 癌

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Using our own genetically modified mice, we confirmed that the transcription factor Nrf2 regulates the expression of antioxidant enzymes and cell proliferation related genes in the oral mucosa. In addition, it was revealed that mucosal thickening was controlled by Nrf2 activity. In the improvement effect of oral mucositis by radiation, although the significant improvement effect in the change of Nrf2 is not obtained, it is planned to carry out condition examination and additional experiments to increase the number.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

進行頭頸部癌に対する化学放射線治療はしばしば重度の口腔咽頭粘膜炎およびそれに起因する不可逆的な嚥下障害をもたらし、著しくQOLを低下させる。放射線による粘膜炎は、放射線による直接のDNA二重鎖破壊に加え、活性酸素種の関与が知られている。転写因子Nrf2は酸化ストレスに対する生体防御において中心的役割を果たしていることが知られている。本研究ではNrf2が口腔粘膜において抗酸化酵素群を発現していること、粘膜肥厚を制御することを明らかにし、放射線粘膜炎を抑える可能性を示し、将来の臨床応用が期待される結果となった。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Simple laryngeal suspension procedure by suturing the digastric muscle to the periosteum of the mandible in neck dissection for tongue cancer (2018)
  • Author(s): Ohkoshi Akira、Ogawa Takenori、Sagai Shun、Nakanome Ayako、Higashi Kenjiro、Ishii Ryo、Kato Kengo、Katori Yukio
  • Journal Title: American journal of otolaryngology Volume: 39 Issue: 2 Pages: 77-81
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2018.01.008
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Poor oral intake causes enteral nutrition dependency after concomitant chemoradiotherapy for pharyngeal cancers (2018)
  • Author(s): Ryo Ishii, Kengo Kato, Takenori Ogawa, Takeshi Sato, Ayako Nakanome, Akira Ohkoshi, Ai Kawamoto-Hirano, Masayuki Shirakura, Hiroshi Hidaka, Yukio Katori
  • Journal Title: European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Volume: 印刷中
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Clinical utility of dynamic-enhanced MRI in salivary gland tumors: retrospective study and literature review. (2018)
  • Author(s): Ogawa T, Kojima I, Ishii R, Sakamoto M, Murata T, Suzuki T, Kato K, Nakanome A, Ohkoshi A, Ishida E, Kakehata S, Shiga K, Katori Y.
  • Journal Title: European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Volume: 印刷中
  • Peer Reviewed