A New Organ for Preventing Systemic Aging: Elucidating the Nutrient Network of Osteocytes

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K21767
• 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: The University of Shiga Prefecture
• Principal Investigator: Tatsumi Sawako 滋賀県立大学, 人間文化学部, 教授 (80420545)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 桑原 頌治 滋賀県立大学, 人間文化学部, 准教授 (70645209)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-07-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 骨細胞 / 栄養 / 加齢

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Osteocytes establish networks with themselves and with other cells in the bone. It is thought that they transfer nutrients and information through this network, but the details of this process are not well understood.
In this study, we generated osteocyte network-breaking mice and analyzed nutrient metabolism in detail. As a result, it was found that abnormalities in bone, mineral, and lipid metabolism occur, and that osteoporosis, chronic kidney disease, and muscle atrophy, whose risks increase with aging, become more severe. Furthermore, when the osteocyte network was restructured, those pathological conditions improved. The results of this study suggest that "osteocytes play the role of nutrient sensors, and the disruption of their osteocyte network may promote aging via systemic nutrient metabolism disorders.

Free Research Field

臨床栄養学、骨ミネラル代謝学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

超高齢社会にあるわが国では健康寿命の延伸を目指す研究は喫緊の課題である。研究成果より、加齢に伴う骨細胞ネットワークの破綻が栄養代謝不良を加速させる可能性が明らかとなった。この成果は、骨細胞数、骨細胞ネットワーク維持のための運動療法、栄養療法に展開でき、老化を伴う疾患、栄養障害、フレイル予防にもつながると考えられる。そのため、さらに研究を進めることで、健康寿命の延伸、医療費削減が期待できる可能性がある。そのため、本研究成果は、社会的、学術的意義があると考える。