Bone-Specific Epigenetic Changes via Vitamin B 12 Metabolism under Iron Deficiency Conditions

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K02302
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 08030:Family and consumer sciences, and culture and living-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Agriculture
• Principal Investigator: Inoue Hirofumi 東京農業大学, 応用生物科学部, 准教授 (10639305)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 鉄欠乏 / ビタミンD3 / メチル化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we investigated whether abnormal methionine metabolism via changing of vitamin B12, affects methylation levels in tissues and bones on iron deficient conditions.
As a result, we found that the total methylated protein and methyltransferases (PRMT1 and PRMT3) decreased in the livers of mice fed an iron-deficient diet compared with mice fed a normal diet. In contrast, methylation status in bone showed no significant difference between the two groups. We suggest that bone fragility in the iron deficiency was not caused by the methylation status but mainly by the changing metabolized vitamin D3 .

Free Research Field

健康科学分野

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究成果は、鉄摂取不足に伴う骨脆弱化のみではなく、鉄欠乏状態とエピジェネティクスな変化の根底にビタミン類の代謝変動があったことを明らかにすることができた。すなわち、本研究成果は鉄欠乏性貧血という単一症状または組織のみに捉われない生体全体でミネラルとビタミンがクロストークしていることを見出せたものである。本成果は食生活の改善において栄養素の重要性を改めて還元できるものと考える。