Clarification of age-related changes in intervertebral discs and development of new anti-cytokine therapy

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K10393
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Orthopaedic surgery
• Research Institution: University of Yamanashi
• Principal Investigator: HARO Hirotaka 山梨大学, 大学院総合研究部, 教授 (10313264)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 原 康 日本獣医生命科学大学, 獣医学部, 教授 (00228628) ; 安藤 隆 山梨大学, 大学院総合研究部, 講師 (10377492) ; 高橋 淳 信州大学, 学術研究院医学系, 准教授 (60345741) ; 大場 哲郎 山梨大学, 大学院総合研究部, 助教 (70456490)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): TAKAYAMA Yoshihiro 山梨大学, 大学院総合研究部, 助教 (20596994)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 椎間板変性 / PAR-1 / 椎間板器官培養 / マクロファージ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It is an urgent task to reduce physical disorder caused by low back pain, reduce health inequality and extend healthy life span. Inflammation associated with disc degeneration and sensory nerve invasion are reported as one cause of low back pain. In this study, as a novel mechanism of inflammation induction, PAR-1 agonist stimulation was assumed and PAR-1 receptor expression in mouse intervertebral disc was shown. In addition, it proved that the migration ability of mouse macrophages is actually enhanced by cytokines released by this stimulation.
These results lead to clarification of disc degenerative processes and activation of inflammation. Furthermore, we aim to become a new treatment for low back pain by blocking this molecule.

Free Research Field

脊椎外科