Analysis of the pain mechanism and treatment of fibromyalgia by the application of disease cell differentiation technologies

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K09384
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 55050:Anesthesiology-related
• Research Institution: Hoshi University
• Principal Investigator: Kuzumaki Naoko 星薬科大学, 薬学部, 准教授 (10507669)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 線維筋痛症 / iPS 細胞 / 知覚神経細胞 / ドパミン神経細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Fibromyalgia is a disease that causes severe, chronic pain of unknown cause over a wide area of the body and is known to be accompanied by various concomitant symptoms such as physical and psychiatric symptoms. In this study, we applied iPS cell differentiation technology to induce differentiation from fibroblast-derived iPS cells into sensory neurons or dopamine neurons, and analyzed the pathology of fibromyalgia. We found that combined manifestations of fibromyalgia caused not only functional alterations in the brain but also sensory neuronal alterations. These results suggest that, although further investigation is necessary, control of the response of sensory nerves as well as upper centers may be important for relieving severe pain.

Free Research Field

幹細胞科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ストレスなどの環境要因による脳内の異常応答が線維筋痛症における激しい痛みに繋がると考えられるが、実際にどのような神経が障害され、神経細胞内においてどのような変化が生じているのか、明らかとなっていない。本研究により、脳内における機能変容のみならず、知覚神経内変容も誘導されている可能性が示唆された。今後詳細な検討は必要であるが、線維筋痛症病態を緩和するためには、精神症状の制御のみならず、痛覚過敏症状への適切な対応も必要であると推察される。