The role of activin in the development and progression of human kidney diseases

• Project/Area Number: 17K09686
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Kidney internal medicine
• Research Institution: Jichi Medical University (2018-2019); Gunma University (2017)
• Principal Investigator: Maeshima Akito 自治医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (70431707)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2019)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,680,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,080,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥1,040,000 (Direct Cost: ¥800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥240,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000)
• Keywords: アクチビン / 腎疾患 / バイオマーカー / 尿中バイオマーカー / 病中バイオマーカー / 腎臓学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Activin A regulates kidney development as well as tubular regeneration after injury. However, it remains unknown whether activin A is involved in the development and progression of kidney diseases in human. In the present study, we demonstrated that blockade of activin A action is a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of various kidney diseases and identified activin A as a novel urinary biomarker reflecting renal inflammation and tubular damages.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、ヒトサンプル（腎生検標本、尿）を利用して、過去の基礎研究データをもとに立てた「アクチビンは腎障害の悪化促進因子である」という仮説を検証するものである。本研究の結果、各種ヒト腎疾患におけるアクチビンの重要性が明らかになり、アクチビンやその情報伝達経路を標的とした新たな腎疾患治療薬の開発への第一歩になると思われる。一部の腎疾患患者で尿中アクチビンが検出されており、腎疾患の尿中バイオマーカー開発に大きく貢献するものと思われる。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Urinary Activin A is a novel biomarker reflecting renal inflammation and tubular damage in ANCA-associated vasculitis (2019)
  • Author(s): Takei Yoshinori、Takahashi Shunsuke、Nakasatomi Masao、Sakairi Toru、Ikeuchi Hidekazu、Kaneko Yoriaki、Hiromura Keiju、Nojima Yoshihisa、Maeshima Akito
  • Journal Title: PLOS ONE Volume: 14 Issue: 10 Pages: e0223703-e0223703
  • DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223703
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Activin A: a novel urinary biomarker of renal impairment in multiple myeloma (2019)
  • Author(s): Iriuchishima Hirono、Maeshima Akito、Takahashi Shunsuke、Ishizaki Takuma、Yokohama Akihiko、Tsukamoto Norifumi、Saitoh Takayuki、Murakami Hirokazu、Handa Hiroshi
  • Journal Title: Bioscience Reports Volume: 39 Issue: 5
  • DOI: 10.1042/bsr20190206
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Identification of Urinary Activin A as a Novel Biomarker Reflecting the Severity of Acute Kidney Injury (2018)
  • Author(s): Takahashi Shunsuke、Nakasatomi Masao、Takei Yoshinori、Ikeuchi Hidekazu、Sakairi Toru、Kaneko Yoriaki、Hiromura Keiju、Nojima Yoshihisa、Maeshima Akito
  • Journal Title: Scientific Reports Volume: 8 Issue: 1 Pages: 5176-5176
  • DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-23564-3
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Presentation] Urinary Activin A: A Novel Biomarker for Monitoring the Severity of AKI (2019)
  • Author(s): Nagayama I, Maeshima A, Nagata D
  • Organizer: KIDNEY WEEK 2019
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] 急性腎障害における新たな尿中バイオマーカー : アクチビン (2017)
  • Author(s): 高橋駿介、他
  • Organizer: 日本腎臓学会