Development of novel therapy for chronic liver disease-related sarcopenia by exosome regulation

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K16532
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 49010:Pathological biochemistry-related
• Research Institution: Chiba University
• Principal Investigator: Nakamura Masato 千葉大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (10756703)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: サルコペニア / 慢性肝疾患 / 非アルコール性脂肪性肝炎 / マウスモデル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We aimed to create a mouse model of sarcopenia (loss of physical function due to reduced skeletal muscle mass), an important complication of chronic liver disease, to clarify the importance of liver-skeletal muscle interactions, especially extracellular vesicles (exosomes), in the development of sarcopenia. We focused on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease associated with obesity and diabetes, which are exacerbating factors of sarcopenia. Since existing mouse models require a long period of time to develop the disease, we established a new mouse model that develops steatohepatitis and liver fibrosis in a short period of time. The usefulness of this model as a sarcopenia model is under investigation.

Free Research Field

肝臓病

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

サルコペニアモデルを作成する過程で、主要な肝疾患となりつつある非アルコール性脂肪性肝疾患の新規マウスモデルの確立に成功した。本マウスモデルは肥満やインスリン抵抗性等の代謝性疾患を伴い、かつ短期間に肝病態を再現可能である。本モデルは非アルコール性脂肪性肝疾患研究に応用可能であり、また、サルコペニアモデルとして有用な可能性がある。本研究成果が、慢性肝疾患や合併症の病態解明および新規治療法の開発に寄与する可能性がある。