To identify the key molecules of stem cell : Possible involvement of neural crest-derived cells against the pathogenesis of middle ear cholesteatoma

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K09857
• 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: Jikei University School of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Yamamoto-fukuda Tomomi 東京慈恵会医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (40372776)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 穐山 直太郎 東邦大学, 医学部, 講師 (90554238)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 中耳真珠腫 / シングルセル解析 / 腫瘍幹細胞化Key分子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we focused on neural crest cells that differentiate into middle ear mucosa cells during middle ear development in order to identify the middle ear cholesteatoma stem cell lineage and stem cell-forming Key molecules.
Using transgenic mice (Wnt1EGFP) in which neural crest-linage cells can be visualized, we generated KGF-inducible experimental middle ear cholesteatoma and examined them histologically. We identified neural crest-linage cells as a component of mouse cholesteatoma and detected the p75 gene as a marker of middle ear cholesteatoma-derived neural crest-linage cells. A large number of p75-positive cells were also found in human cholesteatoma tissues. The mouse cholesteatomas were suppressed by killing p75-positive cells in vivo.

Free Research Field

耳鼻咽喉科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

中耳真珠腫構成細胞として神経堤由来細胞の存在とその細胞のマーカーが同定できた。これまで唯一であった手術療法といった真珠腫性中耳炎の治療法が根本的に変化する可能性があり、その結果、①発症率および再発率の減少、②手術による合併症の減少、が期待でき、
③入院費・手術費・外来通院費の削減などの、医療経済効果も見込める。