Development of a novel treatment for severe facial nerve palsy by intratympanic administration of sustained-release neurotrophic factor

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K09715
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56050:Otorhinolaryngology-related
• Research Institution: Ehime University
• Principal Investigator: Hato Naohito 愛媛大学, 医学系研究科, 教授 (60284410)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 山田 啓之 愛媛大学, 医学系研究科, 准教授 (00403808) ; 岡田 昌浩 愛媛大学, 医学部附属病院, 講師 (20512130) ; 寺岡 正人 愛媛大学, 医学部附属病院, 講師 (40444749)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 顔面神経 / 再生医療 / 栄養因子 / DDS

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study is to develop a new otolaryngological treatment for severe facial paralysis that can be performed on an outpatient basis. Transtympanic intratympanic administration of slow-release nerve growth factors can be combined with systemic steroid administration in a minimally invasive manner from an early stage after the onset of facial nerve paralysis. In this study, using a newly developed severely paralyzed guinea pig with facial nerve cooling, the efficacy of intratympanic administration of sustained-release nutritional factors was verified using multiple nutritional factors (FGF, IGF) and sustained-release gelatin. . As a result, both FGF and IGF were found to have a clear regeneration-promoting effect, demonstrating that they are effective as therapeutic methods. In addition, we elucidated the transfer mechanism of trophic factors to nerves and the effect expression mechanism.

Free Research Field

耳鼻咽喉科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

後遺症が終生持続する難治性顔面神経麻痺は、確立した治療法がなく、従来の発想とは異なった新しい治療法の開発が望まれている。我々は神経保護・再生効果を有する徐放化栄養因子を、発症早期に経鼓膜ルートで鼓室内に投与すれば、難治性麻痺も治癒するのではないかと着想し、低侵襲な鼓室内注入療法の有効性を基礎的、臨床的に検証した。その結果、本治療法は難治性顔面神経麻痺に再生促進効果を有することが明らかとなった。