Mechanosensitive ion channels and bone formation

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K21683
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 57:Oral science and related fields
• Research Institution: Saga University
• Principal Investigator: Kido Mizuho 佐賀大学, 医学部, 教授 (60253457)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 西山 めぐみ 佐賀大学, 医学部, 助教 (00802844) ; 吉本 怜子 佐賀大学, 医学部, 助教 (70878181) ; 本田 裕子 佐賀大学, 医学部, 教務職員 (60295053)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-07-30 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: メカノセンサー / 骨代謝

Outline of Final Research Achievements

As in the ageing society the growing number of patients with osteoporosis is a serious problem in Japan, because bone fractures are associated with the onset of dementia and life prognosis. Recent developments in the treatment of osteoporosis have improved their effectiveness, but there are still issues such as adverse reactions. We set here a mechanosensitive ion channels, as a new target for promoting bone formation, which are sensors of force, because force is the optimal stimulus for bone formation. Using a mouse model, we found out the mechanosensitive ion channels were involved in bone formation and resorption.

Free Research Field

組織細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

寝たきりや無重力のような力の負荷の減少は骨は弱くし、力が加わると骨が増えることはよく知られている。近年、力刺激の大きさに応じて膜電流量を変化させるイオンチャネル、Piezoチャネルが骨の力の受容センサーとして研究が進んできたが、未だその機能は不明な点が多い。私たちは特異的抗体の作製に成功し、超解像顕微鏡観察により、Piezo1, Piezo 2が骨芽細胞に強く発現し、細胞内の特有の構造的特徴を示すことを明らかにした。