Development and Molecular regulatory mechanism of mesenchymal epithelial transition (MET) model

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K20189
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Obstetrics and gynecology
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: TAKAO Tomoka 慶應義塾大学, 医学部(信濃町), 特任助教 (40612429)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: MET / Wnt/β-catenin / 間葉系幹細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Recently, mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) has been involved in many important life phenomena such as tissue and organ formation but not known in this detailed mechanism. Our previous results were shown that mesenchymal stem cells express epithelial-like markers in conditioned culture or in mouse transplantation models. In this study, we aimed to construct a model that reproduces the MET in vitro / in vivo and can be observed in real time. Epithelial-like cells could be reproduced in vivo, but did not reach modeling. However, we found that Raf-MEK or Wnt / β-catenin signaling may be involved in MET by drug researches. It is suggested that these results a foothold of the MET signal.

Free Research Field

分子生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

MET現象、特に成体内における自発的なMETについてはその全貌がほとんど明らかではない。この点に深く切り込んでいくという点で本研究は極めて独創的であると言えた。本研究の成果により既存薬を用いた薬剤研究によりMET制御機構と子宮内膜症はじめとする各種生体内MET機構を人為的に制御できる薬剤が見つかれば、新たなコンセプトの治療薬開発に繋がると期待される。