Resach of yellow ligament deposited amyloids in lumbar spinal stenosis

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18068
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56020:Orthopedics-related
• Research Institution: Kumamoto University
• Principal Investigator: Sugimoto Kazuki 熊本大学, 病院, 医員 (90867178)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: アミロイド / 腰部脊柱管狭窄症 / 腰椎変性 / 黄色靭帯肥厚

Outline of Final Research Achievements

62 yellow ligaments of LSCS patients were analyzed. 42 (67.8%) yellow ligaments showed amyloid deposition, 29 (69.0%) were TTR-positive and 13 (31.0%) were TTR-negative. The LPAR1 expression was significantly higher in the yellow ligament of the TTR-positive group than in the TTR-negative group.
MRI images of the TTR-positive and TTR-negative groups were analyzed, and it was found that the thickness of the yellow ligament and epidural fat was significantly thicker in the TTR-positive group. Known risk factors for epidural fat thickening include high BMI, hypertension, and steroid use, which were not significantly different between the two groups.The relationship between TTR and epidural fat is being studied.

Free Research Field

整形外科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

腰部脊柱管狭窄症における黄色靭帯の肥厚にアミロイド、特にトランスサイレチンが関わっていることが示唆された。また、黄色靭帯へのトランスサイレチン沈着と硬膜外脂肪の厚さが関連している可能性が示唆された。トランスサイレチンがどのように黄色靭帯・硬膜外脂肪へ関わっているかを解明することで、腰部脊柱管狭窄症の治療へとつながる可能性がある。