Exploring the new mechanisms of pulmonary hypertension with Liver RNA sequencing

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K17137
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 53020:Cardiology-related
• Research Institution: National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute
• Principal Investigator: Asano Ryotaro 国立研究開発法人国立循環器病研究センター, 病院, 非常勤研究員 (60827004)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 肺高血圧症 / 網羅的遺伝子発現 / RNAシークエンス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Pulmonary hypertension causes remodeling of the pulmonary arteries in association with a variety of background diseases, including genetics, collagen disease, congenital heart disease, and liver injury. The mechanism of pulmonary artery remodeling is still unknown, but it is likely that some common pathway of background disease is impaired to form the pulmonary hypertension pathology. The liver is the largest organ in the human body, that is closely linked to multiple organs, and it has been reported that it may also play an important role in pulmonary hypertension. In this study, through liver RNA sequencing analysis of animal models and comprehensive analysis of pulmonary hypertension patient samples, we found that the protective gene X in the liver plays an important role in pulmonary hypertension.

Free Research Field

肺高血圧症

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究成果により、肝臓は肺高血圧症の病態形成機構の中でも重要な役割を果たしていることが裏づけられた。特に遺伝子Xは、肝臓での代謝関連する、肺高血圧症の保護的遺伝子であることを見出した。これにより近年注目を集める門脈圧亢進に伴う肺高血圧症を中心として肺高血圧症全般の新たなバイオマーカーや治療法開発につながる可能性がある。