Efficacy of geranylgeraniol, which inhibits bone resorption and promotes bone formation, in metabolic bone diseases

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K10060
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 57010:Oral biological science-related
• Research Institution: Josai University (2023); Meikai University (2019-2022)
• Principal Investigator: Tomomura Mineko 城西大学, 薬学部, 客員研究員 (30217559)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 友村 明人 明海大学, 歯学部, 名誉教授 (60188810) ; 鈴木 龍一郎 城西大学, 薬学部, 准教授 (20415201)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ゲラニルゲラニオール / 骨粗鬆症 / 関節リウマチ / 炎症 / 骨芽細胞 / 破骨細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Healthy bones are maintained on　the balance between the conflicting functions of osteoclasts, which are responsible for bone resorption, and osteoblasts, which are responsible for bone formation. When osteoclasts become dominant due to aging or inflammation, bone destruction progresses, leading to osteoporosis. We found that geranylgeraniol (GGOH) inhibits osteoclast differentiation but promotes osteoblast differentiation. In this study, we further investigated the efficacy of GGOH in bone metabolism diseases. The results showed that GGOH alleviated bone resorption in a mouse model of osteoporosis induced by ovariectomy. GGOH also alleviated inflammatory bone resorption in a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis treated with type II collagen antibody and LPS.

Free Research Field

生化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

加齢にともない骨粗鬆症に罹患する割合が高くなり、人々の健康や社会に影響を与えている。疾患成因に根差した予防や治療法が望まれている。培養細胞系を用いて抗炎症作用を持つGGOHは骨吸収を止めるだけでなく、同時に骨形成を促す有効的な天然化合物であることを示した。実際に骨粗鬆症や関節リウマチモデル動物を用いてGGOHの骨吸収抑制効果が観察され、GGOHの有効性が確認できた。今後、骨粗鬆症および関連する種々の代謝疾患の改善薬の開発に繋がる可能性が高い。