Elucidation of the Mechanism of Oral Cancer Development Starting from NETs ~Crosstalk between Oral Bacteria and Nicotine~

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K10289
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 57080:Social dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: NISHIOKA TAKASHI 東北大学, 歯学研究科, 講師 (50641875)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 多田 浩之 東北大学, 歯学研究科, 講師 (70431632) ; 伊原木 聰一郎 岡山大学, 医歯薬学域, 教授 (80549866)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ニコチン / NETs / 口腔がん

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which have attracted attention as a new function of neutrophils, have various functions. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the disruption of the oral mucosal barrier by bacterial infection and nicotine and the induction of inflammation by NETs, focusing on the fact that neutrophils are induced not only by bacterial infection but also by nicotine stimulation and that the production of NETs promotes cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. We investigated the behavior of NETs by nicotine stimulation of human promyelocytic cell line (HL-60 cells) differentiated into neutrophils by retinoic acid treatment.

Free Research Field

口腔診断、歯科放射線

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

タバコは明らかなリスクファクターとして広く認識され、単一で最大の生活習慣病の原因である。タバコの構成主成分の1つであるニコチンは、自身の発がん性は証明されていないものの喫煙者の血中に高濃度で存在し、口腔がんや歯周病において影響をおよぼす。本研究は、NETsとニコチンの関係に焦点をあて、口腔がん発生メカニズムの解明に寄与したい。