Chiral amino acids for vascular elasticity

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K16003
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Cardiovascular medicine
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Hashimoto Nobuhiro 大阪大学, 医学部附属病院, 医員 (50791589)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 血管石灰化 / アミノ酸 / 腎不全

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We previously found that L-lysine, an amino acid, suppresses vascular medial calcification. In this study, we examined whether D-lysine, an optical isomer of L-lysine, had inhibitory effects on vascular calcification.
In adenine-induced chronic kidney disease rats, D-lysine successfully suppressed vascular calcification. We found that D-lysine, but not L-lysine, suppressed tubulointerstitial injuries in adenine-induced uremic rats and effectively inhibited apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells.

Free Research Field

骨ミネラル代謝

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

血管の弾性の保持は心血管病抑制に重要である。血管の弾性は、「第二の心臓」とも呼ばれる胸腹部大動脈などの弾性動脈が主に担っており、血管中膜石灰化は血管の弾性を失わせる重要な原因である。しかしながら、血管中膜石灰化に対する有効な治療法は確立されていない。今回の我々の研究結果から、アミノ酸を用いた新たな心血管病抑制治療開発の可能性が示された。