Mechanobiology involved in cranial suture closure

• Project/Area Number: 16K20368
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Plastic surgery
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: SAKAMOTO Yoshiaki 慶應義塾大学, 医学部(信濃町), 講師 (10464835)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2019)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,770,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥870,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,040,000 (Direct Cost: ¥800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥240,000)
• Keywords: 頭蓋縫合早期癒合症 / 頭蓋骨縫合早期癒合症 / 頭蓋骨 / メカノバイオロジー / 細胞・組織

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In mice,the posterofrontal suture (this was fused p19) and metopic suture (thi s was patent) was compared.
As results, it was found that the strong expression of estrogen receptor (ER) α continues until the suture was fused. while the expression of ERβ decreases as the fusion starts. These results suggest that ERα was involved in osteoclast activity and ERβ regulates osteoblast activation.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

頭蓋縫合早期癒合症は先天的に頭蓋縫合が癒合しており、癒合する縫合により特徴的な異常頭蓋形態を示す疾患である。本疾患の原因遺伝子がいくつか報告されているが、なぜ早期に癒合が生じるのかということに関しては未だわかっていない。申請者は通常、縫合はいかに癒合せずに開存しているのかということに着目した。その結果、驚くべきことに、通常は骨吸収を促進させる破骨細胞が、開存部分より癒合部分で多く発現していることを見出した。また臨床経験から縫合に外力を加えると癒合が促進されるという知見を得た。以上のことから、頭蓋内圧と頭蓋縫合癒合には圧センサー的なメカノバイオロジーが関与していると考え、その病態を明らかにする。

Research Products

• [Presentation] long-term quality of life in patients with syndromic craniosynostosis (2019)
  • Author(s): Yoshiaki Sakamoto
  • Organizer: International Society of Craniofacial Surgery 2019
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] To distract or not to distract for frontoorbital advanceement in craniosynostosis (2018)
  • Author(s): Yoshiaki Sakamoto
  • Organizer: Plastic Surgery The Meeting in 2018
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Influence of cranial pressure in Mouse Posterofrontal Cranial Suture Fusion (2016)
  • Author(s): Yoshiaki Sakamoto
  • Organizer: Asian Pacific Craniofacial Association
  • Place of Presentation: 奈良100年会館（奈良県奈良市）
  • Year and Date: 2016-11-30
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Influence of cranial pressure in Mouse Posterofrontal Cranial Suture Fusion (2016)
  • Author(s): Yoshiaki Sakamoto
  • Organizer: American Society of Plastic Surgeon
  • Place of Presentation: ニューヨーク（アメリカ）
  • Year and Date: 2016-05-18
  • Int'l Joint Research