Role of angiogenesis in fetal mouse skin regeneration

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K09800
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56070:Plastic and reconstructive surgery-related
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: TAKEMARU Masashi 慶應義塾大学, 医学部(信濃町), 助教 (80748749)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 血管新生 / 創傷治癒

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Humans and mice can regenerate skin after injury until mid-embryonic period, but the mechanism of this regeneration is unknown. The aim of this research was to investigate the relationship between skin regeneration and angiogenesis. We found that angiogenesis was observed in wounds made by fetal surgery on the skin of mouse fetuses, and that angiogenesis was observed in wounds at 13 days of gestation, when regeneration is possible, but not after 14 days of gestation. Physiological angiogenesis of mouse trunk skin was examined, and it was found that the timing of vessel formation coincided with the time when skin regeneration was possible. Single cell analysis of blood vessels also suggested that vascular endothelial cells may be in an immature differentiation stage during the period up to embryonic day 13.

Free Research Field

形成外科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

外傷や手術による傷あとが残存しないようにするという医学的技術は現在確立されておらず、見た目の醜状や疼痛・痒みなどの自覚症状を伴い大きな課題となっている。胎生期に皮膚の再生が可能なメカニズムが分かれば、それを出生後の創傷治癒に応用することで、再生に近づけることができると考えられる。本研究によって、血管新生が皮膚の再生と密接に関連するものと考えられた。血管内皮の分化段階を調節することにより創傷治癒を最適化するという治療戦略を立てることができ、今後の研究の糸口になると思われる。