Identification of Factors Responsible for Liver Fibrosis Focusing on Secretory Pathways and Development of Novel Therapeutic Agents

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K22612
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 53:Organ-based internal medicine and related fields
• Research Institution: Akita University
• Principal Investigator: Saito Kota 秋田大学, 医学系研究科, 教授 (60549632)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-06-28 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 分泌

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we have examined various methods for selecting siRNA oligos for mice and targeting siRNA to the liver in order to investigate the inhibitory effect of siRNA on liver fibrosis in mice. In addition, we have completed the examination of conditions for tissue staining of vesicle trafficking-related factors and the creation of a mouse model of liver fibrosis. Based on these results, we would like to verify the inhibitory effect of siRNA on liver fibrosis by suppressing the expression of various vesicular trafficking-related factors in mice.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

肝線維化はアルコール、肥満等の生活習慣病的要因により引き起こされ、肝硬変・肝癌へと進行するが、線維化に対する根本的な治療法は確立していない。今後非アルコール性脂肪肝炎(NASH)が慢性肝炎の主因になることが予想されることから、ウイルスを標的とせず肝線維化を直接阻害する治療薬の開発がますます期待されている。研究代表者は分泌経路に着目し、種々の分泌経路関連因子の発現抑制によって肝線維化を抑制できる可能性を提示しており、本研究を継続することで、その抑制効果の検証を行いたい。