Elucidation of the role of PROX1 gene in endocrine granule formation

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K19056
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Human pathology
• Research Institution: Dokkyo Medical University (2017); Kyorin University (2015-2016)
• Principal Investigator: Ishii Jun 獨協医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (80749599)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: PROX1 / 内分泌顆粒 / 内分泌腫瘍 / 神経内分泌形質 / 甲状腺癌 / 肺癌

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we investigated hypotheses that the formation of intracellular organelle called endocrine granule is controlled by PROX1 gene. Most cells and tissues having endocrine granules expressed high levels of PROX1. Suppression of PROX1 expression in cell lines with endocrine granules reduced the number of endocrine granules, as well as the expression of several genes constituting endocrine granule. Conversely, the PROX1 gene is introduced into a cell line not having endocrine granules, the expression of endocrine granule constituent gene group is enhanced; it was thought that which is caused by directly acting of PROX1 on the transcription regulatory region of the genes. This study revealed for the first time endocrine cell-specific transcriptional regulator that positively control the formation of endocrine granules.

Free Research Field

実験病理学