2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Elucidation of roles and modes of action of cell adhesion molecules involved in epithelial cell competition
| Project Area | Cell competition: a mechanism for survival of the fittest in the multi-cellular community |
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| Project/Area Number |
26114007
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Review Section |
Biological Sciences
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| Research Institution | Kobe University |
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Principal Investigator |
Takai Yoshimi 神戸大学, 医学研究科, 特命教授 (60093514)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
饗場 篤 東京大学, 大学院医学系研究科(医学部), 教授 (20271116)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2014-07-10 – 2019-03-31
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| Keywords | 細胞競合 / 細胞接着 / ネクチン / アファディン / ネクチン様分子 |
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
In this research, we attempted to identify cell adhesion molecules involved in epithelial cell competition and to elucidate their roles and modes of action. In an in vitro analysis, we established and analyzed the cultured epithelial cells in which afadin, a binding protein of cell adhesion molecule nectin, was genetically ablated. By using this cell line, we partly elucidated the function of afadin in epithelial cell competition. In in vivo analyses, we found the involvement of the membrane receptor CXCR4 as a molecule that regulates the dormancy-wakefulness competition in cancer cells. Furthermore, we analyzed the functions of nectin-1 and nectin-4 in the mammary gland development and elucidated the regulatory mechanism of nectin-4 for the activation of the prolactin receptor. Through those studies, we partly revealed roles and modes of action of cell adhesion molecules in epithelial cell competition.
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| Free Research Field |
生化学
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| Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
細胞競合では、細胞間接着が重要な役割を果たしていることが示唆されていたが、細胞競合に関わる細胞間接着分子の実態やその作用機構はほとんど解明されていなかった。本研究において、細胞レベルと個体レベルで細胞間接着分子が細胞競合に果たす機能の一端を明らかにできたことは学術的意義が大きい。また、現在では様々な生理的・病理的な現象に細胞競合が関与することが明らかにされているので、本研究で見出された分子機構がそれらの現象の解明につながれば、細胞競合が関与する疾患への新たな治療法の創出につながることが期待され、社会的意義も大きい。
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