Demonstration of anti-allergic and ant-tumor effects of solubilized melanin and exploration of the melanin receptors

• Project/Area Number: 17K19935
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Health science and related fields
• Research Institution: Chubu University
• Principal Investigator: Kawamoto Yoshiyuki 中部大学, 生命健康科学部, 准教授 (10410664)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-06-30 – 2021-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2020)
• Budget Amount: ¥6,370,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,470,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥2,080,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥480,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥2,080,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥480,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥2,210,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥510,000)
• Keywords: メラニン / アレルギー / がん / 癌 / イカスミ / イカ墨

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Based on the discovery that water-soluble melanin, which was developed by our group, strongly inhibits mast cell activation and cancer cell proliferation, this study was conducted to demonstrate whether the melanin is effective at the animal level and to elucidate the molecular mechanism. More detailed analysis at the cultured cell level allowed us to elucidate further molecular mechanisms of melanin. Oral administration of water-soluble melanin showed a significant inhibitory effect in both the allergy model and the cancer cell transplantation model. Identification of new molecules that may interact with melanin suggests the possibility of novel melanin receptors.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

メラニンは紫外線防御物質として働く物質であることや、髪の毛の色素物質であるといった認識が一般的であるが、我々が独自に調整した一定の分子サイズの水溶解性メラニンが、マスト細胞の活性化を抑制し、がん細胞の増殖を抑える働きがあることは新規の発見であった。そして本研究で、動物個体で一定の安全性のもと、抗アレルギー、抗腫瘍効果を、限定的なモデルであるにせよ実証することができた。本成果は様々な疾病モデルでさらに検討を進めるための基盤知見となり、今後、ペットやヒトの疾患治療薬開発への応用につながる学術的意義を持つと考える。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Inhibition of mast cell degranulation by melanin. (2019)
  • Author(s): Kawamoto Y, Kondo H, Hasegawa M, Kurimoto C, Ishii Y, Kato C, Botei T, Shinya M, Murate T, Ueno Y, Kawabe M, Goto Y, Yamamoto R, Iida M, Yajima I, Ohgami N, Kato M, Takeda K.
  • Journal Title: Biochem Pharmacol. Volume: 163 Pages: 178-193
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2019.02.015
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] イカスミおよび合成メラニンによるマスト細胞活性化の抑制機序解析 (2019)
  • Author(s): 川本善之、伊藤ななみ、鈴木里歩、高井夢花、林夏希、上野有紀、武田湖州恵
  • Organizer: 日本生化学会
• [Presentation] Analysis of cancer cell growth suppression and mechanism by synthetic melanin (2019)
  • Author(s): Yoshiyuki Kawamoto, Kozue Takeda
  • Organizer: 日本癌学会
• [Presentation] 合成メラニンによるがん細胞増殖および遊走の抑制 (2018)
  • Author(s): 川本善之、近藤紘本、小森光華、大西新一郎、杉江麻友香、山野裕基、小林果、上野有紀、武田湖州恵
  • Organizer: 日本生化学会大会
• [Presentation] Cell growth inhibition by solubilized eumelanin (2017)
  • Author(s): Yoshiyuki Kawamoto, Kozue Takeda
  • Organizer: 日本癌学会
• [Presentation] Suppression of mast cell activation by synthetic melanin (2017)
  • Author(s): Hiromoto Kondo, Kozue Takeda, Yoshiyuki Kawamoto
  • Organizer: ConBio2017