Investigation of the homeostasis retaining mechanism with autophagy in orthodontic tooth movement.

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K17324
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Orthodontics/Pediatric dentistry
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: Nakamura Masahiro 岡山大学, 大学病院, 助教 (20708036)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 実験的歯牙移動 / オートファジー / 細胞内恒常性維持機構

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It is speculated that cell homeostasis is reduced because osteoblasts on the surface of the bone matrix are exposed to various pathological conditions when orthodontic force is applied to teeth. However, details of molecular mechanism for maintaining homeostasis is still unclear. As a result of this study, it was confirmed that osteoblasts on the surface of the alveolar bone during orthodontic tooth movement were in a hypoxic state and were exposed to endoplasmic reticulum stress. In addition, the expression of autophagy markers at the same site was also confirmed, and it was also confirmed that in culture osteoblasts, autophagy was enhanced with respect to hypoxic stress. These findings suggest that autophagy may be involved in maintaining cell homeostasis in osteoblasts exposed to hypoxic and endoplasmic reticulum stress during orthodontic tooth movement.

Free Research Field

歯科矯正学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究成果の学術的意義は、オートファジーが矯正力によるメカニカルストレスだけでなく低酸素や小胞体ストレスに曝された骨芽細胞に対して細胞内恒常性維持機構として機能している可能性を示した点にある。更なる研究を重ねることで歯牙移動の遅延化や歯槽骨以上吸収などの副作用が生じにくい安全な矯正歯科治療を提供することができる点に社会的意義がある。