Visualization of cellular response to cyclic pressure stress

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K12033
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 90110:Biomedical engineering-related
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: Morimatsu Masatoshi 岡山大学, 医歯薬学域, 助教 (70580934)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 静水圧 / 周期的圧力 / メカノバイオロジー / 機械刺激

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Activities of daily living such as walking and sitting pressurize articular cartilage. However, the effect of pressurization on chondrocytes is poorly understood due to the lack of methods that directly observe cells under high pressure conditions. Here we developed high hydrostatic system to observe human cell dynamics under high pressure condition. We also found high hydrostatic pressure regulates signaling pathway in chondrocyte. Our results suggest the model of the homeostasis of articular cartilage under high pressure conditions.

Free Research Field

生物物理

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

高齢化社会における生活の質(QOL)の維持や向上は必須であるが、歩行や咀嚼等の生命活動に伴ったずり応力、圧力、伸展圧縮等の様々な機械刺激が生体組織に必ず生じるため、機械刺激を考慮した細胞や器官の受容応答メカニズムの解明の遂行なくして、QOLの向上に向けた根本的な改善に繋がらない。本研究では、細胞の圧力受容応答メカニズムに迫る研究であった。また、本研究成果は、軟骨組織のリモデリング機構の解明に繋がる知見であり、今後の治療応用にの発展に寄与するものと考える。