The role of endothelial cells in regulation of inflammation

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K05960
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 38060:Applied molecular and cellular biology-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Kumazoe Motofumi 九州大学, 農学研究院, 助教 (70737212)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 分子細胞生物学 / 病態モデル / cGMP / 食品成分 / ケミカルバイオロジー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Pulmonary diseases, including pneumonia and fibrosis, are some of the most challenging diseases and represent a significant public health problem. Considering the serious issue of population aging in Japan, an efficient countermeasure with a low burden is strongly demanded. In this study, we demonstrated that (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-O-Gallate (EGCG), one of the major catechins in green tea, induces an anti-stress factor in the exosomes derived from Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs). We also showed that this compound has a strong pulmonary protective effect against LPS-induced lung inflammation. Additionally, we established the assay conditions for testing the anti-inflammatory effect of compounds in Human Pulmonary Artery Endothelial cells.

Free Research Field

ケミカルバイオロジー

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

肺炎は高齢者において特に予後不良となること、また急性呼吸窮迫症候群から回復後も認知機能や運動機能の低下が生じ、機能的予後に大きな問題を抱えることを鑑みれば、少子高齢化が進む我が国において肺疾患に対する有効な治療、予防法の確立は非常に重要である。本研究課題ではセカンドメッセンジャーの一種、cGMPが肺保護作用を有することをに着目し、肺保護を誘導可能な新たな経路、手法の確立を目指した。また、肺保護作用を有する成分を安定して探索できる実験系の確立を目指し、今後の研究の基盤確立を目指した。