Development of new diagnostic methods by extracellular vesicles in nasal lavage fluids

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K09843
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56050:Otorhinolaryngology-related
• Research Institution: Shiga University of Medical Science
• Principal Investigator: Shimizu Shino 滋賀医科大学, 医学部, 医員 (50505592)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: エクソソーム / 細胞外小胞 / 鼻腔洗浄液 / VEGF / 鼻茸線維芽細胞 / 好酸球性副鼻腔炎 / アルツハイマー病

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Extracellular vesicles, including exosomes, are small membrane vesicles that are released from various cells and are involved in maintaining homeostasis and pathology of diseases. Exosomes contain information about the derived cell and have an important role for intercellular communication. In this study, it was confirmed that exosomes can be separated from human nasal lavage fluid, and that sufficient protein can be extracted from the nasal exosomes for use in proteomic analysis. In addition, a study using cultured cells showed that exosomes are involved in tissue remodeling of eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis as a new intercellular signaling agent.

Free Research Field

耳鼻咽喉科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

鼻腔洗浄液のエクソソームの回収方法とプロテ―オーム解析について初めての報告である。鼻腔洗浄液の採取は容易に低侵襲で行える利点があり、将来的に簡便で安価な診断法の開発につながる可能性がある。鼻腔洗浄液中の細胞外小胞の検出と解析は、血液検査ではとらえることのできない鼻副鼻腔局所病変の新しい評価法として役立つことが考えられる。嗅神経は脳神経で唯一外界に細胞が暴露されるため、鼻腔のエクソソームの解析によって中枢神経疾患の診断も可能となる可能性がある。また、難治性疾患である好酸球性鼻副鼻腔炎の病態とエクソソームの関係がさらに明らかとなれば治療のターゲットになり得る。