Mechanism of direct renal control by the autonomic nervous system

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K17242
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 53040:Nephrology-related
• Research Institution: Nagasaki University
• Principal Investigator: Inoue Tsuyoshi 長崎大学, 医歯薬学総合研究科(医学系), 教授 (30821665)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 腎臓 / 自律神経

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We found that vagus nerve stimulation alleviated renal injury after cisplatin-induced kidney injury, and that nerve stimulation suppressed macrophage influx into the kidney. Using knockout mice, we found that the α7 acetylcholine receptor on macrophages plays an important role in exerting anti-inflammatory and renal protective effects. We also found that sympathetic nerve stimulation also protects the kidneys. We found that sympathetic nerve stimulation induces Tim3 expression via β2 adrenergic receptors on macrophages, leading to proximal tubular protection. Furthermore, we found that tubular cells are directly protected by β2-adrenoceptor stimulation.

Free Research Field

腎臓学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

多くの方が腎臓病を患う一方、腎臓病の根本的な治療法はいまだに存在せず、新たな治療法の開発は喫緊の課題である。本研究によって、障害後においても迷走神経刺激が腎臓保護・治療効果を発揮するメカニズムや、交感神経刺激によるマクロファージを介した腎保護メカニズムなど、神経系を介した新規の腎臓保護作用メカニズムの一端を解明することができた。今後さらに研究を進めることで、腎臓病の新規の治療法開発につなげていきたい。