Molecular analysis of S100A8 protein and development of new treatment for metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K09510
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Cardiovascular medicine
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Hasumi Eriko 東京大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (70599547)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 藤生 克仁 東京大学, 医学部附属病院, 特任准教授 (30422306)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 肥満 / インスリン抵抗性 / S100A8

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Previous basic and clinical studies have shown that inflammation plays an essential role in metabolic diseases as well as atherosclerosis. However, it is still unclear how inflammation is initiated in obese adipose tissue. We found that expression of S100A8 increased in obese adipose tissues. It indicated that S100A8 play a important role for inflammation in adipose tissue. Since, we created S100A8 knockout mice to investigate the role of S100A8 in obese tissue. S100A8 knockout mice showed lower insulin sensitivity relative to foxed mice. This result suggested that S100A8 have a possibility of improving glucose homeostasis.

Free Research Field

循環器内科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

S100a8という新しいアディポカインに着目して脂肪炎症のメカニズムの一端を明らかにできたこと、また脂肪細胞特異的な遺伝子改変マウスを用いて個体での機能を解析することによって、メタボリック症候群における病態的意義を解明できた点で意義があったと考える。加えて、心血管病態も含めて、治療標的としてのS100A8とそのシグナルの有効性を検討し、創薬へのステップを進めることができた点でも臨床的に意義があったと考える。