Salivary circadian rhythm mechanism in the submandibular gland

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K18953
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57010:Oral biological science-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Dental College
• Principal Investigator: Satou Ryouichi 東京歯科大学, 歯学部, 講師 (80801472)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 唾液腺 / 概日リズム / 時計遺伝子 / 末梢時計

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Saliva has a circadian rhythm that increases during the day and decreases at night. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the circadian rhythm formation mechanism of salivary secretion by focusing on the peripheral clock mechanism and ion channels of the submandibular gland. The results of this study suggest that the presence of the peripheral clock of the salivary glands and the ion channels involved in salivary secretion are regulated by the clock gene. In addition, a reporter assay system based on the submandibular gland cell line was constructed, and it became possible to search for factors that affect the peripheral clock rhythm of the salivary glands.

Free Research Field

歯学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究結果より唾液腺に末梢時計が存在しており、唾液分泌量の日内リズムが唾液腺細胞の水分泌関連イオンチャネルの発現リズムで制御されていることが示唆された。また、周囲の光環境や生活リズムが唾液腺の末梢時計に影響を与えることが明らかとなった。唾液腺の末梢時計機構や時計遺伝子から唾液腺の生理機能である分泌・再吸収へのインプット方法を解明する事で、ドライマウスや齲蝕予防の新たなアプローチが可能になると考えられる。