Spatio-temporal analysis of regulatory mechanisms of coupling by osteocytes using an in vitro reconstitution system.

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K15819
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Surgical dentistry
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Hikita Atsuhiko 東京大学, 医学部附属病院, 特任准教授 (60443397)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 藤原 夕子 東京大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (50466744) ; 西條 英人 東京大学, 医学部附属病院, 准教授 (80372390)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 骨リモデリング / 骨細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we examined the role of osteocytes, which exist in the bone abundantly, in the process called remodeling in which bone is destroyed and reformed. In an assay system which reconstitutes the network of cells involved in the maintenance of bone tissue, the change of the cell behavior in the remodeling process when osteocytes were removed was analyzed using two-photon microscopy by which the depths of the tissues can be observed. As a result, removal of osteocytes resulted in the suppression of bone destruction by the reduction of osteoclasts and decreased the following bone reformation. These results implied that osteocytes induce the remodeling by promoting bone destruction by osteoclasts.

Free Research Field

骨代謝