Targeting HSP47 for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K08520
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 53030:Respiratory medicine-related
• Research Institution: Nagasaki University
• Principal Investigator: Mukae Hiroshi 長崎大学, 医歯薬学総合研究科(医学系), 教授 (80253821)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 田中 義正 長崎大学, 先端創薬イノベーションセンター, 教授 (90280700)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: HSP47 / 肺線維症 / 肺線維芽細胞 / コラーゲン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we conducted basic research on the development of drugs for pulmonary fibrosis targeting Heat Shock Protein 47 (HSP47), and constructed a screening system to evaluate the interaction between HSP47 and collagen molecules. The screening was conducted using a library of original compounds and marine microorganism extracts from Nagasaki University. In this process, we succeeded in obtaining hit compounds from the synthetic compound library, but no fibrosis inhibitory effect at the cellular level was observed. On the other hand, some hit extracts were obtained in the screening of the marine microorganism extract library, and we are still synthesizing and optimizing the hit compounds.

Free Research Field

呼吸器内科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、Heat Shock Protein 47 (HSP47) をターゲットとして、肺線維症治療薬開発の基盤研究を行った。現在新規治療薬の開発が求められている肺線維症において、独自のスクリーニング系を用いて、大学独自の化合物、海洋微生物抽出物から治療薬として有望な新規化合物が得られた。今回の研究の結果は、難治で知られる肺線維症に対してHSP47をターゲットとした画期的な治療法の開発に繋がる社会的意義がある。