Involvement of chronic inflammation and gap junction proteins in the pathogenesis of benign prostatic hyperplasia

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22976
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0906:Surgery related to the biological and sensory functions and related fields
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Kono Jin 京都大学, 医学研究科, 助教 (10880015)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 前立腺肥大症 / Connexin 43

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated the association of Connexin 43 (Cx43), a known gap junction and hemichannel component protein, with prostate inflammation and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Knockdown of Bmal1, which appears to be upstream of Cx43, resulted in decreased cell proliferation in RWPE-1, derived from human prostate epithelial cells, and in WPMY-1, derived from the prostatic stroma.

Free Research Field

排尿障害

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

前立腺の炎症は前立腺肥大症の進行に関与する重要な因子と考えられているが、炎症をターゲットとした既存薬による治療効果は限定的とされており、新たな着想の病態解明研究ならびにその成果に基づいた新規治療薬シーズの創製が必要である。本研究により、炎症が前立腺肥大症を引き起こすメカニズムへCx43が関与し、新たな治療ターゲットとなりうる可能性が示唆された。