Functional elucidation of lumbar vertebral endplate disorders via microRNA mediation and establishment of novel therapeutic strategies

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K09204
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56020:Orthopedics-related
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University
• Principal Investigator: Nakamae Toshio 広島大学, 医系科学研究科(医), 助教 (40595758)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 味八木 茂 広島大学, 病院(医), 特定教授 (10392490) ; 亀井 直輔 広島大学, 医系科学研究科(医), 准教授 (70444685)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: マウス / 椎体終板障害 / microRNA / 腰痛 / 軟骨終板 / 椎間板

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the current study, we used knockout mice for microRNAs (miRNAs) that regulate gene expression networks to analyze the function of miRNAs in cartilage endplate degeneration.
We evaluated the cartilage endplates using knockout mice for two highly expressed miRNAs in cartilage (miR-23a/b cluster and miR-26a). Histological findings showed no significant difference in cartilage endplate changes compared to controls in miR-26a knockout mice, whereas in miR-23a/b cluster knockout mice, the maturation of cartilage endplates was inhibited. Moreover, in histological evaluations of intervertebral discs, progression of intervertebral disc degeneration was not observed in miR-26a knockout mice, but it was observed early on in knockout mice for the miR-23a/b cluster.

Free Research Field

医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、マウス脊椎における軟骨終板の経時的な組織学的変化の詳細な観察を行うとともに、miRNAを介した新たな椎間板の発生・成熟、軟骨終板変性の分子機構を、軟骨で高発現しているmiR-23a/b クラスターおよびmiR-26aのKOマウスを用いて解析することで明らかにした画期的な研究である。