Elucidation of aging lung pathophysiology through sphingolipid signaling

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K07864
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 52010:General internal medicine-related
• Research Institution: Kanazawa University
• Principal Investigator: ISHIMARU KAZUHIRO 金沢大学, 医学系, 協力研究員 (70595446)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 肺線維症 / スフィンゴ脂質代謝 / 老年医学 / 間質性肺炎

Outline of Final Research Achievements

There is an intractable disease called interstitial pneumonia / pulmonary fibrosis, which is different from the decline in lung function due to aging, and there are almost no silver bullets, and it is thought that new drug development is necessary. The key to new drug development is to elucidate the pathophysiology of "why interstitial pneumonia / pulmonary fibrosis occur?". Indeed, many cases with unknown cause have been reported. This time, we discovered that the S1P2 receptor may be involved in the pathophysiology of pulmonary fibrosis in the biological system called "sphingolipid metabolism". But complex interactions between pulmonary constituent cells were suggested in the pathogenesis of lung fibrosis via S1P2 receptor.

Free Research Field

内科系臨床医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究成果はスフィンゴ脂質代謝、特に生理活性因子S1Pとその受容体サブタイプという斬新な観点から見いだされた、原因不明（特発性）あるいは薬剤により誘導される肺線維症・間質性肺炎の病態機序解明の糸口と考えられ、肺機能を健全に保ち長寿社会を支える可能性を秘めた画期的な治療薬開発に繋がる重要な情報基盤となる。