Elucidation of the mechanism in tongue development

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K10156
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 57060:Surgical dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Niigata University
• Principal Investigator: Nihara Jun 新潟大学, 医歯学系, 講師 (10636228)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 大峡 淳 新潟大学, 医歯学系, 教授 (40266169) ; 齊藤 一誠 朝日大学, 歯学部, 教授 (90404540)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 舌

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The tongue is an indispensable organ for good quality of life as it has various critical functions such as feeding, swallowing, pronunciation, and taste. On the other hand, the tongue is most commonly surgical removed organ in the oral cavity, since it is the most common region for cancer in dentistry. Therefore, it is expected that tongue regenerative therapy is established. However, a mechanism of tongue development remains unclear, which is essential for inducing stem cells in tongue regeneration. This study elucidated the mechanism of tongue development by analyzing microRNA-deficient mice, in which the tongue lost. Results suggest the possibility that the tongue was absent due to the overactivity of multiple signaling pathways in microRNA-deficient mice. Thus, appropriate activity levels of the signaling pathway is likely important for tongue development.

Free Research Field

歯科矯正学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

様々な重要な機能を有している舌は、癌の好発部位でもあるため、再生療法を望む患者は多い。再生療法には、再生させる器官の発生メカニズムの知識が必要となる。しかし、舌の発生メカニズムの多くは、明らかとなっておらず、舌の再生療法も進んでいない。そのような中、microRNA欠損マウスの解析から、舌の発生メカニズムの一端を明らかにできた本研究成果の意義は大きい。今後の舌の再生療法の確立に大きく貢献できると考えられる。