Research Project
Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
Lampreys are unique vertebrates in that they lose biliary trees entirely during the metamorphosis. Despite the biliary atresia, lampreys do not develop either biliary cirrhosis or liver dysfunction. In other vertebrates, obstruction of bile ducts results in fatality because of the cytotoxicity of bile salts. It means that lampreys have evolved to use another metabolic pathway of bile juice in order to avoid the cholestasis. However, molecular mechanism of this pathway is still unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate the way how the lamprey avoids the pathological consequence of cholestasis. We have cloned the cDNA sequences of two kinds of P450, which show high degree of homology with mammalian CYP7A1 and CYP27A1, respectively. We are now evaluating the expression levels of the mRNA for these genes in liver, gonad, gill, heart and intestine along with the temporal expression profiles from larva to adult. The present study suggests how and where bile acids are detoxified in adult lampreys. Understanding how lampreys avoid cholestasis could be valuable for progress in the treatment of human obstructive cholangiopathy.
All 2013 2012 2011
All Journal Article (3 results) (of which Peer Reviewed: 2 results) Presentation (7 results) Book (2 results)
Lethenteron japonicum. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. B Biochem. Mol. Biol.
Volume: 161(3) Pages: 233-239
Comp. Biochem. Physiol. B Biochem. Mol. Biol
Volume: 161(3) Issue: 3 Pages: 233-239
10.1016/j.cbpb.2011.11.011
10031086293
Int. J. Mol. Med
Volume: 29(1) Pages: 18-24
10.3892/ijmm.2011.809
