Study on the Regulatory Mechanisms of the Function of Skeletal Muscle by Brown Adipose Tissue

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K21755
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 59:Sports sciences, physical education, health sciences, and related fields
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Goto Tsuyoshi 京都大学, 農学研究科, 准教授 (10550311)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 瀬尾 茂人 大阪大学, 情報科学研究科, 准教授 (30432462) ; 高橋 春弥 京都大学, 農学研究科, 助教 (30750369) ; 井上 和生 京都大学, 農学研究科, 教授 (80213148)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-07-30 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 褐色脂肪組織 / 骨格筋

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To clarify the role of brown adipose tissue (BAT) in the regulation of skeletal muscle function, we conducted several experiments using BAT less mice.
Transcriptome analysis in the slkeletal muscle from BAT less and control mice revealed that mRNA expression levels of genes related to muscle fiber type and muscle contruction were changed between both genotype, suggesting that BAT functions are related to the regulation of skeletal muscle functions. Although we did not observe any changes in exercise capasity, changes in muscle regeneration process induced by cardiotoxin injection were detected. Delay in expression peak of genes related to muscle regeneration induced by cardiotoxin and suppression of the accumulation of stromal cells were observed in BAT less mice.
These findings indicated that BAT functions did not affect exercise capacity, but they might be related to muscle regeneration.

Free Research Field

食品機能学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

BATは高い熱産生能を有し、肥満症の有力な標的組織となることから、これまでのBAT
機能研究では「如何にBAT機能調節が為されているか」という受動的組織としての研究が大半であった。本研究結果はBATによる積極的な骨格筋機能制御機構の存在を示唆するものであり、学術的に意義深く、新たなBAT機能研究の方向性として今後の展開・発展が期待できる。また、来るべき超高齢化社会に向け骨格筋機能制御機構の解明は社会的関心の高い課題であり、本研究で示唆されたBATによる骨格筋機能制御機構の存在は将来的な応用が期待されることから、本研究結果は高い社会的意義を有すると考えられる。