Functional analysis of cell adhesion molecules in mouse submandibular glands

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K16475
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 48010:Anatomy-related
• Research Institution: Kobe University
• Principal Investigator: Midori Kitayama (吉田) 神戸大学, 医学研究科, 医学研究員 (20636427)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: cell adhesion molecules / nectin / submandibular gland

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Morphological abnormalities and histological abnormalities were observed in the N1KO submandibular glands, and also the expression amylase in the N1KO submandibular glands was lower than that of WT. The expression amylase was reduced in the submandibular glands of Nectin-3 KO, although there was no morphological and histological difference between the Nectin-2, -3 KO and the WT submandibular glands. Our result suggest that nectins, especially nectin-1 is involved in the maintenance and development of the salivary glands. Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and their receptors (FGFRs) are important in many developmental events, including in submandibular glands development. It was suggested that nectin-1 is involved in the regulation of FGFR signaling pathway.

Free Research Field

歯科口腔外科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

口腔乾燥症は難治性疾患であり、疾患特異的な治療法がない。投与薬剤の副作用、口呼吸、シェーグレン症候群、放射線治療の後遺症、老化、糖尿病、更年期障害などにより引き起こされる身近な疾患である。唾液分泌能の低下はう蝕、細菌感染、咀嚼機能障害、嚥下機能障害、味覚障害、口臭、歯周病、舌痛症などの臨床症状や著しいQOLの低下を招く。これまでに様々な細胞接着分子欠損マウスで唾液腺の形成異常が報告されているが、その発症メカニズムは解明されていない。本研究では、細胞間接着分子ネクチンに着目し、唾液腺の発生・維持におけるこれらの機能を分子レベルで解明し、再生医療の進歩に貢献したい。