Novel roles of mast cells as metabolic regulators and their regulation

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H02940
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 38050:Food sciences-related
• Research Institution: Nihon University
• Principal Investigator: TAKAHASHI Kyoko 日本大学, 生物資源科学部, 教授 (70366574)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 中西 祐輔 日本大学, 生物資源科学部, 講師 (20579411) ; 細野 朗 日本大学, 生物資源科学部, 教授 (70328706)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: マスト細胞 / 脂肪細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Although mast cells are widely known to induce allergic inflammation, it has recently noticed that they originally play various physiological roles in vivo. In this study, we showed that mast cells regulate adipocyte differentiation/maturation in both positive and negative manners, suggesting a novel role of mast cells in metabolic regulation. Mast cells suppressed adipocyte differentiation/maturation via the soluble factor which they produced, while they promoted adipocyte differentiation/maturation via the physical intercellular contact. The suppression of adipocyte differentiation/maturation was mediated by the heat and protease-sensitive factor with high molecular mass, and the involvement of extracellular traps in the inhibitory effect was suggested.

Free Research Field

食品免疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により、マスト細胞が脂肪蓄積の制御という新たな生理的役割を担うことが示唆され、多機能な免疫細胞として注目されているマスト細胞の新しい一面が明らかになった。近年、生活習慣病罹患者および予備軍の増加が問題となっており、肥満は、その重要なリスクファクターである。加えて、内臓脂肪の蓄積により誘導される慢性炎症が様々な疾患につながることから、マスト細胞を介した脂肪細胞の制御機構の解明とその手段の確立は、肥満の抑制や生活習慣病の予防に向けた新たな戦略につながることが期待される。