A novel pathophysiological mechanism of dry mouth

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18689
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57060:Surgical dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Fukuoka Dental College
• Principal Investigator: Kishikawa Sari 福岡歯科大学, 口腔歯学部, 助教 (50781358)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: ドライマウス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Xerostomia is a disease whose main symptom is dry mouth due to decreased saliva production. In recent years, an increasing incidence of obese patients has been reported worldwide. However, there are no reports of a molecular biological link between obesity and thirst, and the mechanism by which obesity induces thirst remains unclear. In this study, we elucidated the molecular mechanism by which obesity causes dry mouth using mice fed a high-fat diet.
As a result of research, gene expressions of PML, p53, and p21, which are aging-related molecules, were increased in the salivary glands of mice fed a high-fat diet. In addition, the expression of the aging marker SA-β-gal was increased in the acinar cells of the salivary glands by immunofluorescent staining. It has been suggested that obesity caused aging of salivary gland cells and decreased salivary gland function.

Free Research Field

免疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年、肥満が様々な疾患のリスク要因になることが明らかになり、肥満関連性疾患の研究は飛躍的に発展している。本研究により、肥満による唾液腺の細胞老化の誘導の分子メカニズムが明らかになり、さらに加齢変化との関係性が明らかになれば、唾液腺特異的なセノリティクスの開発に繋がる。これにより、肥満による若年性ドライマウスの早期治療が可能になるとともに、加齢によるドライマウスの治療にも応用できる。健康長寿社会において、口腔機能の維持は口腔疾患の予防の上でも大変重要であり、しいては全身疾患予防にも繋がる。