Proteomic Signatures for Osteosarcopenia

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K10505
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 58030:Hygiene and public health-related: excluding laboratory approach
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: Osawa Yusuke 慶應義塾大学, 健康マネジメント研究科(藤沢), 准教授 (20621204)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: オステオサルコペニア / プロテオミクス解析 / 国際比較 / 老化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Osteosarcopenia, characterized by bone and muscle weakness, is associated with health-related outcomes, including overall mortality. However, the mechanisms and biomarkers for early detection of it remain unclear. This study examined the relationship between bone mineral density and muscle mass/strength in prospective cohort studies. The main findings suggest that declines in BMD and muscle mass were associated but differ by sex, and the strength of this relationship differs by country and/or race. Additionally, comprehensive proteomic analysis identified GDF-15 as a potential biomarker related to decreased bone density, while in sarcopenia, plasma concentrations of histidine and alanine were associated with walking speed. Taken together, the findings suggest that the strength of the association between bone and muscle losses differs by country and/or race, indicating the importance of international comparisons in identifying biomarkers related to osteosarcopenia in the future.

Free Research Field

老化疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

世界レベルの超高齢化に伴い、オステオサルコペニアの病態生理学や背景因子を明らかにすることは喫緊の課題である。本研究の研究成果から、骨密度と筋肉量の低下は関連することが示されただけでなく、その関連の強さは国や人種によって異なること、男性より女性のほうが関連が強いことを示した。また、骨密度の低下と関連する血漿中のタンパク質に関しても性差があった。以上より、運動器の加齢変化を理解する上では、国や人種、性別など属性が重要であることが示唆され、今後、老化による運動器の形質や機能低下に対する運動プログラムなど介入研究を講じる場合には、対象者の属性を考慮することも重要な視点となると考える。