2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Elucidation of the pathophysiology of systemic sclerosis targeting abnormal sodium metabolism
| Project/Area Number |
21K08462
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Review Section |
Basic Section 54020:Connective tissue disease and allergy-related
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| Research Institution | Yokohama City University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
中島 秀明 横浜市立大学, 医学研究科, 教授 (30217723)
桐野 洋平 横浜市立大学, 医学部, 講師 (50468154)
吉見 竜介 横浜市立大学, 医学部, 講師 (70585265)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
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| Keywords | 全身性強皮症 / Na代謝 / Na-MRI |
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
Systemic sclerosis is a rare, chronic autoimmune connective tissue disorder characterized by degenerative changes and scarring in the skin, lungs, and other internal organs against a background of autoimmune phenomena. It has been shown that localized Na accumulation in tissues, such as skin, due to excessive salt intake leads to increased autoimmune disease due to T cell polarization toward pathogenic Th17 cells via the p38/MAP kinase pathway. In this study, with the aim of “elucidating the mechanism by which Na accumulation in the skin causes the development and exacerbation of scleroderma,” (1) Na-MRI, which was developed as a tool to evaluate tissue Na levels, was “first introduced in Japan,” and (2) experiments focusing on Na in the skin were conducted using scleroderma model mice. The results suggested that Na accumulation may exacerbate skin fibrosis.
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| Free Research Field |
膠原病
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| Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
強皮症の病因としては、線維芽細胞の活性化、血管障害、免疫異常が知られている。皮膚硬化は浮腫期、硬化期、萎縮期という経過をとり、浮腫期であれば副腎皮質ホルモンの投与も検討されるが、治療効果は限定的であり、局所の電解質動態は今までに検証されていなかった。本研究に用いたNa-MRIの手法は、そのまま他の疾患への臨床応用も可能である。血清Na濃度は体内の総Na量の動きを示すものではない。Na-MRIは、画像診断対象外とされてきた疾患の異常を捉える可能性があり、こうした技術が進化すれば難治性疾患における治療薬の開発もいっそう進むと期待される。
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