Elucidation of the role of ERK5 activation in vascular endothelial cells and fibroblasts in flap engraftment.

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K18907
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56070:Plastic and reconstructive surgery-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokushima
• Principal Investigator: TSUDA Tatsuya 徳島大学, 病院, 医員 (80791780)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: ERK5 / 皮弁術 / 血管新生 / HIF1α

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To elucidate the role of ERK5 in flap surgery, we created vascular endothelial cell-specific ERK5 knockout mice, performed flap surgery, and compared their engraftment rates with wild-type mice. As a result, an improvement in flap engraftment rate was observed in the knockout mouse group, and histological examination showed an improvement in angiogenesis. As a result of analyzing the amount of HIF1α protein, pERK5 and tERK5 protein as factors related to angiogenesis, it was confirmed that the amount of HIF1α protein increased and the amount of p / tERK5 protein decreased in the knockout mouse group.
From the above, it was confirmed that angiogenesis is promoted by increasing the amount of HIF1α protein by knocking out ERK5.

Free Research Field

形成外科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

皮弁術は皮膚欠損の再建方法として広く行われている術式である。しかし、皮弁には血流不全及び虚血再灌流障害による壊死が生じるリスクがある。臨床では血行動態の改善に焦点を置いた治療が行われているが、その効果は充分ではなく新しい治療法の開発が求められている。本研究では血管新生に関わる重要な因子であるERK5を抑制することで皮弁の生着率が向上することを発見した。今後さらなる研究を続けることで、ERK5とその関連因子の抑制剤を用いた新たな治療法を開発できると考えられる。