Regulation of sterol transport mechanism by food environment and prevention/improvement of obesity-induced pathogenesis

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K11693
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59040:Nutrition science and health science-related
• Research Institution: Saga University
• Principal Investigator: Koji Nagao 佐賀大学, 農学部, 教授 (10336109)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 食環境 / HDL代謝 / 疾患遺伝子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We attempted to identify disease genes and to elucidate the interaction between the expression of disease genes and the food environment by conducting a comprehensive search of genes expressed in the liver, a major HDL-producing organ, using food components that can alter HDL metabolism as triggers. Plant leaves and their extracts did not alter HDL metabolism, but extracts from mushrooms were found to alter HDL metabolism. Furthermore, a combination of ω3 fatty acids and dietary fiber and an anti-inflammatory substance produced by koji fermentation were also found to alter HDL metabolism in vivo. As candidate disease genes in the liver, it is important to examine the effects of not only ABCA1, which is important for HDL neogenesis, but also ABCG5 and ABCG8, which are involved in the extrahepatic excretion of sterols.

Free Research Field

食品栄養化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

動脈硬化性疾患の危険因子として、HDL代謝の低下が重要視されているが、その機構と影響しうる薬剤や食環境に関する詳細は不明である。本研究では、様々な食事成分がHDL代謝に及ぼす影響を生体系で検討を行い、脂質代謝を変動させることが分かっているキノコの熱水抽出物やEtOH抽出物中に活性成分があること、海苔粉末および発酵物粉末中のω3脂肪酸・食物繊維・抗炎症物質にもステロールトランスポーター遺伝子発現調節作用があることが見いだされた。以上のことから、今後のHDL代謝調節機構解明と代謝を改善する機能性成分開発の糸口を示唆することが出来た。