Elucidation of bone coupling mechanism through single cell analysis of bone cells

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22938
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0904:Internal medicine of the bio-information integration and related fields
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Morimoto Akito 大阪大学, 医学系研究科, 招へい教員 (10881740)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 骨カップリング / 破骨細胞 / 骨芽細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Bony tissue undergoes repetitive remodeling proscess throughout life. Osteoblasts and osteoclasts differentiate in spatially and temporally discrete units on the bone surface, and bone resorption is always followed by bone formation.The mechanisms by which osteoblasts locate to the bone space eroded by osteoclasts are unknown. To understand this, we analyzed bone tissue, using intravital imaging technique and genetic analysis. Here we revealed that secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI), a serine preotease inhibitor, directory promotes osteoblast differentiation, while it regulates interaction between osteoclasts and osteoblasts to promote bone formation and suppress bone resorption.Collectively, these results demonstrate that SLPI regulates the communication between osteoblasts and osteoclasts to promote bone anabolism.

Free Research Field

骨代謝

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

骨粗しょう症をはじめとした骨量現象を伴う疾患の治療において、骨吸収を抑える薬剤に比べて骨形成を促進させる薬剤は限られており、骨を再生させる治療薬の開発が望まれている。本研究成果は、既存の骨形成促進薬の作用機序解析を行うことでその臨床的意義をさらに高めるとともに、骨粗しょう症など骨疾患の治療により効果的な骨疾患治療薬の開発につながることが期待される。