Analysis of molecular basis underlying the membrane fusion between myoblasts.

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K07244
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 48010:Anatomy-related
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Kametaka Satoshi 名古屋大学, 医学系研究科(保健), 教授 (10303950)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 骨格筋分化 / 筋芽細胞融合 / 細胞融合 / 膜交通

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the process of regeneration of damaged skeletal muscle, myosatellite cells differentiate into myoblasts, which then fuse with other myoblasts to form multinucleated myocytes. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of this myoblast fusion phenomenon and to search for drug seeds that assist or promote muscle regeneration, we started screening various compounds using a novel cell fusion assay system (HiMy method) (Isobe et al., 2022) and found that myoblast fusion is promoted by mevalonolactone treatment. We found that treatment with mevalonolactone promoted myoblast fusion. Furthermore, we showed that pharmacological alteration of cholesterol biosynthesis promotes membrane fusion in myogenesis, suggesting that cholesterol plays an important role in the molecular mechanisms involved in the myoblast fusion event.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

超高齢化を迎える本邦において、高齢者の健康寿命を延伸することは社会の喫緊の課題でもある。特にサルコペニアをはじめとする筋疾患は生活の質を下げる主要な要因であり、骨格筋萎縮に対抗するための医療介入法の策定が急がれる。本研究は骨格筋の維持を支える分子機序の一つである筋衛星細胞からの筋分化を促進することを目的とした研究であり、本研究で得られた成果は筋萎縮の予防や損傷筋からの回復促進につながる点で重要な社会的インパクトを有する。