Role of stress signals in the differentiation process of skeletal myoblasts by stepwise differentiation induction

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18011
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56020:Orthopedics-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Women's Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Kikuchi Tetsutaro 東京女子医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (00650805)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 骨格筋 / 筋芽細胞 / 再生 / 分化 / ストレスシグナル / p38 / UPR

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of stress signals in the differentiation process of myoblasts, which are responsible for the repair and regeneration of skeletal muscle. A stepwise differentiation induction method was established to separately analyze the differentiation states of myoblasts before and during myotube (muscle fiber) formation. Using this method, the effects of stress response signals on myoblast differentiation were investigated. The results showed that the inhibition of these signals tended to suppress differentiation in both the pre-myotube formation stage and the myotube formation stage. However, this effect was minor compared to the addition of cell growth factors. These findings indicate that stress signals are modulatory factors in myoblast differentiation before and after myotube formation.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学、再生医療、組織工学、機械工学、細胞培養工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、骨格筋の修復・再生に重要な役割を果たす筋芽細胞の分化過程におけるストレスシグナルの役割の解明に取り組んだ。特に、筋芽細胞の分化段階を筋管形成前と筋管形成時に分けて解析する手法を確立し、それぞれにおけるストレス応答シグナルの関与を解析した。この研究は、骨格筋の再生メカニズムの理解を深めるだけでなく、筋ジストロフィーなどの筋疾患の新しい治療法の開発に貢献する可能性がある。また、加齢や損傷による筋力低下の予防や改善にも応用できるため、広範な健康問題の解決に寄与することが期待される。