Novel method to evaluate nature of vessel wall in athrosclerosis by fluorescent probes reacting specific protease for vascular surgery

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K09119
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 55030:Cardiovascular surgery-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo (2020, 2022); Kawasaki Medical School (2021)
• Principal Investigator: Akagi Daisuke 東京大学, 医学部附属病院, 届出研究員 (20464753)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 高山 利夫 東京大学, 医学部附属病院, 講師 (80802694) ; 保科 克行 東京大学, 医学部附属病院, 准教授 (90571761) ; 石原 聡一郎 東京大学, 医学部附属病院, 教授 (00376443)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: アミノペプチダーゼ / 動脈壁 / 動脈疾患 / 大動脈瘤 / 閉塞性動脈疾患

Outline of Final Research Achievements

At performing vascular surgery, “healthiness" in vasculature is determined by the surgeon's experience and gross findings. However, an appropriate and objective definition of "healthiness" for arteries with atherosclerosis or degeneration is needed. We examined enzyme activity in arterial tissue using a probe that combines fluorescence and aminopeptidase, which reacts to specific enzymes. Aortic walls that were considered healthy and aortic aneurysm walls that were dilated and in danger of rupturing were collected. Differences in reactivity were detected in each among more than 300 different probes. The Diced Electrophoresis Gel (DEG) method, a two-dimensional electrophoresis technique, was then used to identify the enzymes found in the “healthy" arterial wall.

Free Research Field

血管外科学　生化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で用いたプローブは、組織に噴霧するだけで短時間で酵素を特異的に検出できる画期的な技術である。時間的に制限のある手術や処置においても充分対応可能と考えられる。血管の健常性を担保する酵素の同定は学問的に動脈硬化、変性、加齢などの学術的研究に寄与するだけでなく、適切な手術術式の選択に寄与する可能性が高く、その社会的意義は高い。