Study on the effects of zinc on the fatty liver

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K10421
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 58020:Hygiene and public health-related: including laboratory approach
• Research Institution: Azabu University
• Principal Investigator: Yoshioka Wataru 麻布大学, 獣医学部, 准教授 (80425496)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: zinc / inflammation / liver

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study investigated the potential of zinc deficiency as an exacerbating factor for hepatitis by establishing an experimental model in mice. First, the effects of the two conditions, dietary fatty liver and drug-induced zinc deficiency, were examined individually or in combination, and it was found that the effects were not additive. Next, experimental studies were conducted on changes in gene expression and related changes in a mouse model of drug-induced zinc deficiency, focusing on how zinc deficiency alters inflammation-related factors in the liver. The results of this study suggest that zinc deficiency commonly leads to a systemic increase in neutrophils and progresses to the pre- or early stages of inflammation in the liver.

Free Research Field

環境衛生学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

運動不足と現代的食生活を背景としてメタボリックシンドロームが社会的な問題となっている。このようなエネルギー代謝障害を基盤とする生活習慣病の肝での病態が脂肪肝であり、脂肪肝炎から肝硬変および肝癌への進展が問題であると考えられる。本研究は、単純性脂肪肝から脂肪肝炎への増悪という観点から、亜鉛欠乏が肝臓において炎症性の反応を引き起こすかといういうことならびにその分子メカニズムを検討した。その結果、亜鉛欠乏によって肝臓に炎症準備状態になるここがことが判明した。この状態が単純性脂肪肝を脂肪肝炎に進展させるリスク因子となる可能性が考えられた。