Understanding the mechanism of bleeding control via platelet and coagulation activation by fucoidan in dogs with hemophilia.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K06381
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 42020:Veterinary medical science-related
• Research Institution: Gifu University
• Principal Investigator: KITOH Katsuya 岐阜大学, 応用生物科学部, 教授 (80270974)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: フコイダン / 血友病 / オキナワモズク / 血小板 / 血液凝固 / 犬

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Hemophilia frequently causes spontaneous bleeding in humans and dogs, but a safe and effective treatment has not yet been established, even after long-term administration. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanism by which fucoidan from Okinawa mozuku inhibits spontaneous bleeding in dogs with hemophilia. The results showed that platelets activated by fucoidan express phosphatidylserine on their surface and release microparticles to enhance blood coagulability, that fucoidan directly inhibits tissue factor pathway inhibitor and enhances coagulability, and that the enhancement of coagulability after oral administration of fucoidan to dogs with hemophilia can be evaluated by the diluted prothrombin time assay.

Free Research Field

獣医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

血友病の治療では、投与が平易で、自然出血を抑制する効果が持続し、有害作用を発生しないことが求められる。本研究では、食用のモズクから抽出したフコイダンが犬の血小板を活性化して血液凝固能を高め、加えて直接作用でも凝固能を亢進すること、さらに犬に経口投与した後の凝固能亢進を希釈プロトロンビン時間法という簡便な方法でモニターできることを明らかにした。本研究の成果から、血友病に罹患した犬の飼い主が食用フコイダンを自宅で与えることで自然出血を予防できることが期待でき、飼い主の不安の解消、動物と人の福祉の向上に貢献することとなる。