Development of new medications for urinary stone using an osteopontin antibody

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K18616
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56030:Urology-related
• Research Institution: Nagoya City University
• Principal Investigator: Unno Rei 名古屋市立大学, 医薬学総合研究院(医学), 助教 (40755683)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 尿路結石 / オートファジー / 酸化ストレス / 細胞傷害 / オステオポンチン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The lifetime prevalence of urinary calculi is increasing, and elucidation of the formation mechanism and establishment of recurrence prevention methods are urgently needed. We have previously demonstrated that stone formation is accelerated in obesity model mice, and proposed that urinary calculi are a pathological condition of metabolic syndrome (MetS). In addition, osteopontin (OPN), an organic substance contained in urinary calculi, was also expressed during arteriosclerosis, and showed a high correlation between the prevalence of urinary calculi and aortic calcification. From this study, we examined the inhibitory effect of OPN antibody on suppressiong urinary calculi, suggesting that this antibody may suppress urinary calculi through autophagy-mediated cytoprotection.

Free Research Field

泌尿器科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

尿路結石の生涯罹患率は増加しており、形成機序の解明と再発予防法の確立は急務である。しかしながら、尿路結石に対する治療はその大部分を侵襲の強い外科的治療に頼っている。本研究から我々は、尿路結石の中で認められるオステオポンチンに着目し、その抗体を使用した結石予防効果を検討したところ、この抗体は細胞保護作用を示すオートファジーを活性化させて予防効果を示す可能性が示唆され、新規治療薬となる可能性が示唆された。