Is thyroid hormone signals involved in the formation of nucleus pulposus of intervertebral disc?

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K06677
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 44020:Developmental biology-related
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University
• Principal Investigator: Nakajima Keisuke 広島大学, 両生類研究センター, 助教 (60260311)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 田澤 一朗 広島大学, 両生類研究センター, 助教 (10304388)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 甲状腺ホルモン / 変態 / 脊索 / 髄核 / RNA-Seq / olfm4 / 甲状腺ホルモン受容体 / scppa2

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Amphibian metamorphosis is induced by thyroid hormone. The disappearance of the tail is the largest event in metamorphosis of anuran amphibians and is also a typical example of apoptosis. It is known that the notochord of mammals disappears with development and becomes the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc. However, it is unclear what the fate of the notochord, which disappears with the disappearance of the amphibian tail. In order to clarify the mechanism of notochord collapse associated with amphibian metamorphosis, this study revealed a part of the molecular mechanism involved in notochord disappearance.

Free Research Field

発生生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

両生類の変態現象は甲状腺ホルモンによって引き起こされる。無尾両生類の変態において尾の消失は最大のイベントであり、アポトーシスの典型例でもある。哺乳類の脊索は発生と共に消失し、椎間板の髄核となることが知られている。本研究は甲状腺ホルモンと脊索消失の関係の分子機構を明らかとすることにより、椎間板の発生や病気の治療に新たな視点を与えるきっかけとなり得る研究である。