Development of a minimally invasive technique to regenerate the middle ear mucosa in the treatment of middle ear cholesteatoma.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K09725
• 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: Yamagata University
• Principal Investigator: Ito Tsukasa 山形大学, 医学部, 教授 (50344809)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 窪田 俊憲 山形大学, 医学部, 客員研究員 (80536954)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 中耳真珠腫 / 中耳粘膜 / レチノイド / 再生医療 / 線毛上皮

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to develop a regenerative therapy for the middle ear mucosa to prevent recurrence of middle ear cholesteatoma. In this study, we used a unique animal model with middle ear mucosal defects to investigate the regenerative effects of retinoids on the middle ear mucosa. As a result, local administration of retinoids regenerated middle ear lineage epithelial cells with characteristics histologically similar to those of normal cells. In addition, the regenerated lineage epithelial cells functionally had motility similar to that of normal mucosa. We also evaluated the inner ear toxicity of retinoids and found no obvious inner ear toxicity in this study. Retinoids are already widely used in clinical practice, and clinical trials in humans will be conducted in the future for clinical application.

Free Research Field

耳鼻咽喉科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究はこれまで初めて、中耳粘膜におけるレチノイド受容体の存在を明らかにし、さらにレチノイドが中耳粘膜の線毛上皮再生に有効であることを示した研究であり、中耳真珠腫に対する新たな治療法開発の第一歩になったと考えられ、その社会的意義は大きいと考えている。レチノイドはすでに臨床で広く使用されている薬剤であり、本研究の結果をもとに臨床応用できれば、より実践的な中耳粘膜再生治療法となりうる。