Identification of cell fate-determining factors using microRNAs involved in mesenchymal cell aggregation

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K24074
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0907:Oral science and related fields
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Funada Keita 九州大学, 大学病院, 助教 (80847997)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-08-30 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 歯 / 上皮－間葉相互作用 / micro RNA

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Epithelial-mesenchymal interaction has critical roles for organ development　including tooth. To identify the molecular mechanism of this interaction, we explored the specific transcriptional start sites (TSSs) of tooth organs using cap analysis of gene expression (CAGE). We identified a tooth specific TSS, which codes microRNA-875 (mir875). MiR875 is specifically expressed in dental mesenchyme during the early stage of tooth development. In this study, we found that mDP cells transfected with miR875 showed that cell migration toward dental epithelial cells was significantly induced by miR875 via the PDGF signaling pathway.

Free Research Field

歯科矯正学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

将来の器官再生技術の確立のため、器官発生における分子メカニズムを明らかにすることは重要である。本研究では、上皮－間葉相互作用に着目し、歯をモデルとした機能解明を図った。CAGE法を用いた網羅的解析により、歯に特異的な転写開始点を発見し、non-coding RNAである、miR875を同定した。本因子は上皮－間葉相互作用における間葉細胞の凝集に重要な役割を果たし、歯の形成に関わっている可能性を発見した。本発見は、将来の器官再生技術に寄与できる可能性が考えられる。