Development of prophylactic treatment for disc degeneration using the Wnt inhibitory factor.

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K15998
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 42020:Veterinary medical science-related
• Research Institution: Gifu University
• Principal Investigator: IWATA MUNETAKA 岐阜大学, 応用生物科学部, 助教 (30815626)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 椎間板髄核変性 / 椎間板ヘルニア / 軟骨異栄養性犬種 / Wnt inhibitory factor / β-catenin

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) greatly affects the quality of life. The nucleus pulposus (NP) of chondrodystrophic dog breeds (CDBs) is similar to the human NP because the cells disappear with age and are replaced by fibrochondrocyte-like cells. Because IVDD develops as early as within the first year of life, we used canines as a model to investigate the in vitro mechanisms underlying IVDD. The mechanism underlying age-related IVDD, however, is poorly understood. We investigated that the Wnt inhibitory factor-1 (Wif-1) expression in healthy and degenerated canine NP tissues. In this study, we found that while the expression of Wif-1 protein was upregulated in degenerated NP tissues, it was
downregulated in herniated NP tissues.

Free Research Field

整形外科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により、軟骨異栄養性犬種の椎間板髄核組織においてWif-1タンパクが発現し、さらに変性に関与している可能性が示唆された。このことは、椎間板変性に対する予防的治療の開発への最初の手掛かりになったと考える。ただし、本研究ではサンプル数や抗原抗体反応の結果に課題を残したため、より精度の高い解析を実施する必要がある。