Molecular mechanism of smoking-related health damage

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K01712
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Applied health science
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Takihara Keiko 大阪大学, キャンパスライフ健康支援センター, 教授 (70252640)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 喫煙 / 生活習慣病 / 慢性炎症 / 老化 / 睡眠

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Smoking is considered as an environmental aging accelerator. In the present study, we focused on the influence of smoking to the serum concentration of anti-aging protein a-klotho and the b-klotho-associated protein, fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-21. Serum levels of FGF-21, a-klotho, and inflammation-related cytokine IL-6 were significantly higher in smokers than in never-smokers in male subjects. However, in female subjects, a-klotho levels were slightly lower in smokers than in never-smokers. Klotho-related molecules showed a differential association and response to smoking between men and women.
We further focused on the serum levels of a-klotho as a possible objective biomarker of stress. Among male subjects, a-klotho was significantly elevated who had poor stress management and unsatisfactory sleep, suggesting that stress management influenced the serum levels of a-klotho.

Free Research Field

一般内科学、循環器内科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

喫煙をはじめとしたライフスタイルの変化が、老化・炎症という観点からメタボリックシンドローム発症リスク因子としてどのような意義をもつのかを科学的に明らかにすることにより、生活習慣病予防へとつながるライフスタイルの改善に向けた新たな予防法・生活指導法を確立することが可能となる。また、睡眠やストレスがいかにして生活習慣病発症に関わるのかについて、男女の違いを明らかにすることにより、男女別の予防法や生活指導法を確立することが可能となる。