The molecular mechanism of miR-139-5p in Primary Biliary Cholangitis

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K15921
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Gastroenterology
• Research Institution: Yamagata University
• Principal Investigator: Katsumi Tomohiro 山形大学, 医学部, 助教 (70637355)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: PBC / microRNA

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the first year, we verified cytokine regulation by miRNA interference in cultured cells. When miR-139-5p interference was performed, TNF-α in the culture supernatant tended to decrease, confirming that miR-139-5p functions as a inflammatory cytokine regulator. In the next fiscal year, we examined the in vivo expression effect of miR-139-5p using PBC model mice. It was confirmed that administration of miR-139-5p inhibitor to the tail vein of NOD.c3c4 mice resulted in a decrease in TNF-α when it was underexpressed in PBC liver. Therefore, miR-139-5p was shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of PBC.

Free Research Field

肝臓

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により難治性肝疾患であるPBCの病態が解明しうる可能性がある。最終的にはmiRNAをターゲットとした創薬開発応用につながることが期待される。根治療法としては肝移植しかなかったPBC治療に大きなブレイクスルーをもたらす成果であったと思われる。