Identification and functional analysis of genes suppressing the onset of age-related hearing loss in the Japanese wild-derived inbred MSM/Ms mice

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K09643
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56050:Otorhinolaryngology-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science
• Principal Investigator: YASUDA Shumpei 公益財団法人東京都医学総合研究所, 基礎医科学研究分野, 主任研究員 (50534012)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: マウス遺伝学 / 加齢性難聴

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Our previous studies have shown that a gene locus that suppresses the onset of age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is located on approximately 10 Mb of centromeric region of the chromosome 12 of Japanese wild derived MSM/Ms mice. This study showed that there are at least two genes, suppressing the onset of ARHL, in this region. One of gene is within 23 genes in the first half and the other gene is within 13 genes in the second half. Each of these genes was shown to work additively with the cadherin 23 gene to suppress onset of ARHL. Analysis of the Tg mice narrowed the candidate suppressor genes down to five genes, but unfortunately did not lead to the identification of the genes.

Free Research Field

遺伝学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、MSM/Msマウスが保有する加齢性難聴発症抑制遺伝子を同定し、加齢性難聴の発症抑制メカニズムを解明することを目的とした。これまでの聴覚研究は、疾患の発症責任遺伝子の探索に主眼が置かれており、発症抑制を目的とした研究は報告されていない。しかしながら、未知の発症抑制遺伝子を同定し、加齢性難聴の発症抑制メカニズムを解明することで、効果的な予防薬の探索および開発など発症予防の研究をさらに発展させることができると考えており、今回の研究成果はその足がかりとなるものである。