The role of pattern recognition receptors in osteoclast differentiation and function

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K09625
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56020:Orthopedics-related
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: Fujita Hirofumi 岡山大学, 医歯薬学域, 助教 (20423288)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 小渕 浩嗣 岡山大学, 医歯薬学域, 講師 (10304297)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 破骨細胞 / ゲノム編集 / マウス / 発生工学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

How osteoclasts recognize old bone remains to be elucidated. We focused on pattern recognition receptors and found that some pattern recognition receptors are specifically expressed on osteoclasts. In this study, we aimed to identify old bone recognition molecules from these pattern recognition receptors. We then generated some knockout mice of candidate molecules in mice by genome editing. Contrary to expectations, disruption of the pattern recognition receptor A gene strongly promoted osteoclast differentiation. This result showed that gene A might contribute to the recognition of new bone.

Free Research Field

骨代謝、ゲノム編集

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究成果は、遺伝子Aが新しい骨を認識して破骨細胞の形成を抑え、骨吸収を避ける分子である可能性を、世界に先駆けて発見した。このような分子の報告はほとんどなく、この分子を活性化させるような新たな骨粗鬆症治療薬の開発につながる可能性がある。