Epigenetic regulation of dedifferentiation-inducible genes mediated by macrophage during regeneration

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K06184
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 43050:Genome biology-related
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: Bando Tetsuya 岡山大学, 医歯薬学域, 講師 (60423422)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: コオロギ / 再生 / 再生芽細胞 / マクロファージ / Toll

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The two-spotted cricket Gryllus bimaculatus regenerates the lost part of leg. During the leg regeneration process, the blastema, which is the population of undifferentiated-proliferating cells, is formed beneath the wound epithelium. The blastema cells proliferate and differentiate to regenerate the lost part of leg, however, molecular mechanisms of the blastema formation are unclear. In this study, we found that the plasmatocytes, which are known as insect macrophages, recognized debris of injured cells and accumulated into the wound site. The plasmatocytes produced the insect cytokine Upd to activate Jak/STAT signaling, inducing the blastema cell proliferation and leg regeneration.

Free Research Field

再生生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

様々な生物の器官再生に、免疫細胞の一種であるマクロファージが重要であることが分かっているが、マクロファージが器官再生を促進する詳細なメカニズムは不明であった。我々は、Toll受容体シグナルが昆虫のマクロファージの遊走を促進することがきっかけとなり、器官再生が促進されることを見出した。これまで無関係と思われていた器官の再生と個体の免疫の関連を明らかにした。