The development of regulatory methods for osteocyte function using optogenetics

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K19633
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 57:Oral science and related fields
• Research Institution: Teikyo Heisei University (2020-2022); Tohoku University (2018-2019)
• Principal Investigator: Yoshida Takashi 帝京平成大学, 薬学部, 准教授 (30455795)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-06-29 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 光遺伝学 / 細胞接着 / 近赤外光

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the bone, osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and osteocytes connect each other and regulate bone remodeling by accepting mechanical stimulation. The detailed mechanisms of bone remodeling have not been understood because the bone cells are embedded in hard tissue. This study aimed to develop a method to manipulate bone cells by near-infrared optogenetic pair. We exploited a pair of optogenetic proteins translocated to the cell membrane with near-infrared and suppressing focal adhesion function. Although the efficacy was low, these proteins reduced some cell areas by photo illumination. It remains a challenge for future research to improve the efficiency of photo switchability.

Free Research Field

細胞分子生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究はまだ効率的に細胞の接着を抑制することはできていないが、今後の改良により効率的に近赤外光により細胞の形態を制御できるようになると考える。さらに本研究は人体に深く透過することができる近赤外光を用いて非侵襲的に体の奥深くにある細胞を制御することを最終的な目的としているため、この手法の改良は骨組織のみにとどまらず、体の内奥にある病巣に対する遺伝子治療などにも応用できる手法となると考える。