Global elucidation of the molecular mechanism in osteoclastogenesis induced by receptor RANK/HCR, and development of novel therapeutic approach for bone diseases.

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K19986
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Orthopaedic surgery
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Taguchi Yuu 東京大学, 医科学研究所, 助教 (20549472)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 骨免疫 / 骨代謝 / RANK / 破骨細胞 / シグナル伝達

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Bone is an important organ, which has functions of supporting body shape and hematopoiesis. Osteoclasts are cells that degrade bone matrix, and have a crucial role in bone remodeling in concert with osteoblasts which generate bone matrix. The excess formation of osteoclast causes pathological bone resorption, such as that found in postmenopausal osteoporosis and bone metastases. Therefore, elucidation of the precise molecular mechanism of osteoclastogenesis is important for development of therapeutic strategies to treat or prevent such bone diseases.
Our screening revealed that some novel proteins bind to HCR which is an essential region in RANK for induction of osteoclastogenesis. Moreover, we identified three genes which regulate osteoclastogenesis. These results will contribute to reveal the novel signal pathway involved in osteoclast differentiation.

Free Research Field

骨免疫学