The role of ERK pathway inhivitors in rat crescentic glomerulonephritis

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K17302
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 52050:Embryonic medicine and pediatrics-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokushima
• Principal Investigator: NAGAI Takashi 徳島大学, 病院, 特任助教 (20835582)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 半月体形成性腎炎 / ERK経路 / MEK1/2阻害剤 / MEK5阻害剤

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated the role of MEK1 / 2 inhibitor and MEK5 inhibitor as ERK pathway inhibitors in rat crescentic glomerulonephritis. The inhibitor-administered groups were compared with the normal control group and the untreated nephritis group. The crescent formation rate of the MEK1 / 2 inhibitor-administered group was decreased as compared with the untreated nephritis group. The crescent formation rate of the MEK5 inhibitor-administered group was slightly decreased as compared with the untreated nephritis group. These results suggested that the ERK pathway may be a new therapeutic target in nephritis.

Free Research Field

内科系臨床医学・小児科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究にて半月体形成性腎炎におけるERK経路の関与およびERK経路阻害剤の一定の効果を証明することができ、今後投与方法の工夫や投与量の調整、ヒト腎炎など引き続き研究を継続していくことにより、ERK経路を治療標的とするあらたな治療法の開発につながりうるものと考えている。今後ERK阻害剤が既存の治療に抵抗性を有する腎炎に対しても、その作用機序の違いから効果を発揮する治療戦略となりうることを期待する。