Function of a novel Rab protein in neutrophils and its role in periodontal disease

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K10112
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 57030:Conservative dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Nagasaki University
• Principal Investigator: Yukitake Hideharu 長崎大学, 医歯薬学総合研究科(歯学系), 技術職員 (30380984)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 筑波 隆幸 長崎大学, 医歯薬学総合研究科(歯学系), 教授 (30264055) ; 門脇 知子 長崎大学, 医歯薬学総合研究科(歯学系), 教授 (70336080)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: Rabタンパク質 / 好中球 / 歯周病

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Neutrophils phagocytose bacteria, secrete cytokines, and function at the forefront of biological defense. From our own research, we discovered a novel gene, Rab44, that increases during osteoclast differentiation, and found that Rab44 is also expressed in neutrophils. In this study, we analyzed the expression levels and intracellular localization of Rab44 in bone marrow cells, which are precursor cells of neutrophils. Furthermore,we comparatively analyzed the expression levels of Rab44 in some immune cells such as neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells that differentiate from bone marrow cells.

Free Research Field

口腔病原微生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

我々は世界に先駆けて新規遺伝子Rab44を破骨細胞で同定したが、Rab44が好中球にも発現していた。Rab44が関与する破骨細胞と好中球の機能が異常になれば、歯周病の感受性が変化することは容易に予測される。本研究では破骨細胞や好中球に特異的に発現しているRab44の役割について解析を進めた。本研究によるRab44の分子基盤の解明は破骨細胞の骨吸収機構や好中球の分泌機構、貪食・殺菌機構の解明にとって有益な情報となるだけでなく、新しい骨代謝治療薬あるいは歯周病治療薬への手掛かりになる可能性がある。