Mechanism of suppression of liver fibrosis by omega-3 fatty acids

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K16998
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Pediatric surgery
• Research Institution: Akita University
• Principal Investigator: Watanabe Ryo 秋田大学, 医学部附属病院, 医員 (80638255)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: IFALD / 肝硬変 / ω3系脂肪製剤 / 肝星細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

IFALD and liver cirrhosis are one of the diseases for which treatment should be established in the field of pediatric surgery, and it has been reported that ω3 fat preparations are useful for IFALD. The mechanism is still unknown. On the other hand, it is widely known that hepatic stellate cells are involved in liver fibrosis. In this study, it was shown that ω3 fat preparation suppresses activation of hepatic stellate cells, and as a result, suppresses the production of extracellular matrix such as collagen. It was suggested that ω3 fat preparations may suppress IFALD by a mechanism mediated by hepatic stellate cells.

Free Research Field

小児外科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

腸管不全関連肝障害（IFALD）は一部の小児外科疾患が原因で引き起こされる腸管不全の致命的な合併症であり、その機序の解明及び治療法が急務であるが、いまだ多くが解明されていない。一方で動物実験や臨床試験において、ω3系脂肪製剤がIFALDの改善または発症を遅らせることが報告されている。本研究はω3系脂肪製剤がなぜ肝障害を抑制するのか、その一端を説明できる可能性を含んだ結果を得ることができ、本邦ではいまだ保険適応外であるω3系脂肪製剤の認可、さらにはより有効な治療薬の開発に一歩前進するものである。