Physiological significance of the novel ability of microcystin LR from blue-green algae to induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K06222
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 40040:Aquatic life science-related
• Research Institution: Kagoshima University
• Principal Investigator: Komatsu Masaharu 鹿児島大学, 農水産獣医学域水産学系, 教授 (30325815)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: Microcystin-LR / Acteoside / 上皮・間葉転換 / OATP1B3 / 生薬イワジシャ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

After exposure to microcystin-LR, detached and floating cells were collected and analyzed for changes in E-cadherin expression, which showed a marked decrease in expression of both genes and proteins. The cells that reattached after detachment and suspension were resistant to nodularin and okadaic acid as well as microcystin-LR, and after 3 months of passaging, microcystin-LR was not detected in the cells, indicating that the sensitivity to microcystin-LR is similar to that of parental cells.
In addition, Acteoside, a component of the crude drug Iwajisha, inhibited the cellular uptake of Microcystin-LR via OATP1B3 and attenuated its cytotoxicity.

Free Research Field

水圏生物毒性学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近い将来に水道法の改正等によりMicrocystin-LRが「要検討項目」から少なくとも「水質管理目標設定項目」に引き上げられることが望まれ、結果的に我が国の健康水準がより上昇することが期待される。さらにMicrocystin-LR、Nodularin、およびOkadaic acid中毒、ならびに疫学的因果関係が不明の肝臓障害の発生予防や対症療法の確立に貢献し、水圏生命科学領域における「食と健康」・「水と健康」研究を通じて世界中の人類の公衆衛生の向上に寄与することが期待される。