Development research for dry mouth treatment focusing on matrix metalloproteinase

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18697
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57060:Surgical dentistry-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokushima
• Principal Investigator: ONO Shinji 徳島大学, 病院, 医員 (60770576)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: ドライマウス / MMP-9 / CXCL10

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the molecular mechanism of MMP-9 overexpression in the pathogenesis of dry mouth, and to establish a dry mouth treatment corresponding to the etiology. IFN-γ stimulation upregulated the expression of MMP-9 and the chemokine CXCL10 in salivary gland cell lines. Co-culture with an MMP-9 inhibitor revealed that IFN-γ-induced CXCL10 expression was significantly suppressed at the mRNA and protein levels. It was suggested that suppression of MMP-9 overexpression in patients with dry mouth could reduce CXCL10 expression and control the recruitment of inflammatory cells, leading to the stability of salivary gland tissue.

Free Research Field

口腔内科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

加齢や疾病により唾液分泌が低下した病態をドライマウスという。唾液は、食べる、飲み込む、話す、潤すなど円滑な口腔機能に欠かせないもので、ドライマウスは生活の質を著しく低下させる一因となる。本研究では、ドライマウス患者の唾液中に過剰分泌されているMMP-9に着目し、唾液腺細胞を用いてMMP-9阻害により唾液腺導管細胞が産生するケモカインであるCXCL10の発現が抑制されることを明らかにした。この結果は、唾液腺細胞の安定化につながりドライマウスの治療法になりうる可能性が示唆された。