Elucidation of the role of hematopoietic cells in the development and progression of liver cirrhosis due to NASH and establishment of new therapeutic targets.

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K17404
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 53010:Gastroenterology-related
• Research Institution: University of Miyazaki
• Principal Investigator: Ozono Yoshinori 宮崎大学, 医学部, 助教 (20839394)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: NASH / 肝硬変 / fibrocyte / CDAHFD / CD11b-DTR

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4: carbon tetrachloride)-induced liver fibrosis model mice were treated with clodronate liposomes (CL: clodronate liposome) to selectively eliminate monocytes. Although fibrocytes in the liver were reduced compared to the non-CL-treated group, the progression of liver fibrosis was not suppressed. Therefore, the contribution of fibrocyte to liver fibrosis in the CCl4-induced liver fibrosis model is considered to be small. In the future, we plan to examine whether the elimination of monocytes in the liver of NASH model mice also reduces fibrocyte in the liver and suppresses the progression of liver fibrosis.

Free Research Field

肝臓内科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により、CCl4誘導肝線維化モデルにおいては、その線維化進展における単球由来fibrocyteの寄与は小さいものと考えられ、その線維化改善のためにはfibrocyte以外の細胞を治療標的とするのが妥当であると考えられた。ただし、NASHモデルに関しては、その線維化進展におけるfibrocyteの寄与の程度は解明されていないため、今後の追加研究が必要と考えられる。