Establishment of intravital imaging for enchondral ossification

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K09479
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56020:Orthopedics-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Kaito Takashi 大阪大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 特任准教授 (70623982)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 骨再生 / 骨芽細胞 / 軟骨細胞 / 生体内イメージング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the healing and regeneration of bones, observing the process of bone formation is of great significance for maximizing therapeutic effects. Previously, we established a method for in vivo imaging of BMP-induced ectopic ossification process by visualizing osteoblasts, blood vessels, and newly formed bone over time. However, to elucidate the process of endochondral ossification, which is a major part of bone formation, visualization of cartilage was deemed necessary. Therefore, we created double-labeled transgenic mice with typeX collagen labeled in red and type I collagen labeled in green, and successfully observed chondrocytes and osteoblasts simultaneously in vivo. This research outcome suggests that by optimizing both cartilage formation and bone formation, efficient bone regeneration can be achieved.

Free Research Field

整形外科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

広範囲骨欠損の治療や脊椎固定術において、骨癒合の獲得は患者QOLの向上に欠かせない。骨芽細胞による骨形成が起こる前段階として軟骨細胞による軟骨形成が生じ、その軟骨を足場として骨形成が行われる。我々は軟骨による足場形成を合わせた評価系として、骨形成過程における軟骨細胞と骨芽細胞の両者を同時に生体内で可視化する遺伝子改変動物モデルを作製した。骨癒合・骨再生過程において、両者を可視化する系が確立されたことは、骨形成の最適化を可能とし、今後の研究の進展により難治性広範囲骨欠損の治療法や、脊椎固定における早期骨癒合獲得法の開発につながる点で意義が大きい。