Elucidation of the mitochondrial activity regulation linked to the conversion from cell proliferation to differentiation

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K10406
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 57070:Developmental dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Kato Hiroki 九州大学, 歯学研究院, 助教 (30452709)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 佐藤 浩 九州大学, 歯学研究院, 助教 (00421313) ; 高山 扶美子 九州大学, 大学病院, 助教 (20795950) ; 増田 啓次 九州大学, 大学病院, 講師 (60392122) ; 廣藤 雄太 九州大学, 歯学研究院, 助教 (80759746)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: ヒト脱落乳歯由来幹細胞 / 細胞分化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It is becoming evident that mitochondrial activity is involved in cellular differentiation. However, the entire mechanism of mitochondrial activation during differentiation is still elusive. We analyzed the mechanism of mitochondrial activation during differentiation using stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED), which have high proliferative and multilineage differentiation potential, as a differentiation model. We compared gene expression before and after SHED differentiation into neurons and discovered that the expression of several genes involved in mitochondrial activity regulation was altered. Therefore, these genes may have a role in SHED differentiation.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の成果は、ヒト脱落乳歯由来幹細胞を始めとした幹細胞を用いた組織・器官の再生医学を促進する基盤データになると考えます。近年の研究により、ミトコンドリアの機能低下が様々な難病の病態と関係することが明らかになってきました。しかし、その多くで有効な治療法が開発されていません。本研究成果は、これら難病の新規病態解明や治療法開発に応用可能であると考えます。