Effect of high fat diet and aging on lung stem cells

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K15934
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 53030:Respiratory medicine-related
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: OZAKI Mari 慶應義塾大学, 医学部(信濃町), 研究員 (90772286)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: lung stem cells / high fat diet / aging / alveolar cells / mitochondria / calorie restriction

Outline of Final Research Achievements

High fat diet (HFD) and the ensuing obesity are known to be risk factors for many diseases such as cardiovascular disease. However, HFD has recently been shown to also negatively influence other organs and tissues, including the lung. As the mechanism(s) by which a HFD might influence the lung have never been studied we wanted to determine the effects of a high fat diet on aging and specific cells in the lung called stem cells, cells that are involved in
the maintenance and regeneration of the lung.
We found that HFD induces various potentially harmful effects to the lungs, including decreasing the number and function of mitochondria and increasing lung inflammation and epithelial stem cell proliferation. Some of the observed effects of HFD are similar to the “aging-induced” changes. Switching to a low calorie diet efficiently reversed several of the HFD-induced changes.

Free Research Field

pulmonary medicine

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

日本人の食生活は欧米型の高脂肪食（HFD）に近づいている。この傾向のもとでは、肺をはじめとした臓器への影響を理解せねばならない。高脂肪食は肺の機能を損ない、肺の老化を加速させるが、カロリーを制限することにより、この現象を減速させることができる。これは食事を改善させることにより健康を促進できることを意味する。