Development of novel therapeutic strategies for diabetic kidney diseases by tubular epithelium-specific protection

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K08679
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 53040:Nephrology-related
• Research Institution: Kawasaki College of Allied Health Professions (2022); Okayama University (2019-2021)
• Principal Investigator: Sugiyama Hitoshi 川崎医療短期大学, 医療介護福祉学科, 教授 (60325090)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: トレフォイルファクター / 糖尿病性腎臓病

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Trefoil factor (TFF) is a mucosal protective protein produced by epithelial cells in various organs. Among them, TFF3 is expressed in renal tubular epithelial cells. In diabetic kidney disease (DKD), urinary TFF3 significantly correlated with urinary albumin excretion, and furthermore, urinary TFF3 excretion was enhanced in the microalbuminuric group than in the normal group, and urinary TFF3 was significantly correlated with urinary α1-MG. Thus, urinary TFF3 was suggested to be an indicator of tubular damage in the early stage of DKD. The intracellular signaling mechanism of TFF3 expression in cultured renal tubular epithelial cells and the therapeutic effect of TFF3 overexpression on inhibition of renal fibrosis in DKD remain unresolved.

Free Research Field

腎臓病学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

わが国において腎不全から慢性透析療法を受ける患者数は34万人を超えており1.7兆円の医療費がかかっている。糖尿病性腎臓病（DKD）はわが国における透析導入の原疾患として最も多くを占めることから、DKDの早期発見と早期治療、重症化予防による透析導入の減少は医療経済的にも喫緊の課題である。本研究ではDKD早期から尿中TFF3上昇が見られており早期診断マーカーとしての可能性が示唆された。DKDの早期発見が可能となれば早期治療へと繋がり、重症化予防と透析導入の減少が可能となる。今後、多数例を対象とした検証を行うことにより有用性を検証していく必要がある。