Development of therapeutic method to suppress liver disease progression by drug repositioning

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K09438
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Gastroenterology
• Research Institution: Nara Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Yoshiji Hitoshi 奈良県立医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (40336855)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 鍛治 孝祐 奈良県立医科大学, 医学部, 学内講師 (20623490) ; 北出 光輝 奈良県立医科大学, 医学部, 研究員 (40526795)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 肝硬変 / 肝線維化 / エンドトキシン / 腸内細菌

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this research, we were able to obtain results close to the original goals for each application item. A drug delivery system using hyaluronan micelles is established in this study. Significant results have also been obtained in the subject of studies on intestinal bacteria and liver fibrosis. In patients with liver cirrhosis, changes in permeability-related markers were parallel to changes in endogenous endotoxin, and it was possible to clarify the involvement of endogenous endotoxin due to increased intestinal permeability. Furthermore, we have obtained great results from a new perspective regarding the search for new biomarkers. In this study, we found that VWF and ADAMTS13 in patients with chronic liver disease could be useful biomarkers for various diagnosis.

Free Research Field

消化器内科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は未だ治療法が確率されていない慢性肝疾患の終末像である肝硬変にたいして多面的アプローチによる病態の解明、新規治療法への基礎的知見、特に腸肝相関に注目した内因性エンドトキシンの役割について明らかにすると共に各種血清マーカーが肝疾患における様々な病態に有用であることを明らかにしており、慢性肝疾患患者の予後改善に大きく寄与し得る成果を獲得できた。