Development of Bone Quality Improvement Therapies Targeting Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K17042
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57050:Prosthodontics-related
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: Kunitomo Yuri 岡山大学, 医学部, 客員研究員 (30837381)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 骨 / 老化 / 間葉系幹細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The success of dental implant treatment depends on bone quantity and quality, necessitating bone quality improvement for patients with osteoporosis. We previously discovered that tryptophan plays a role in maintaining the stemness of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). In this study, we aimed to elucidate the mechanism behind this phenomenon. Our results revealed that kynurenine, a metabolite of tryptophan, is involved in maintaining stemness and contributes to bone regeneration and improvement in bone quality. Furthermore, RNA-seq analysis indicated significant qualitative changes in MSCs associated with aging.

Free Research Field

歯科補綴学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は骨髄MSCsを対象としているが，本知見が他の組織に存在する組織幹細胞にも有効であれば，骨粗鬆症のみならず，加齢と関連して発症する歯周病，変形性関節症，認知症等の予防や病態改善に貢献する可能性を有している．このような点から，本研究は創造性が高く、社会的意義も大きい．本研究が成就すれば，ステムセルエイジングの制御に向けた大きなブレイクスルーとなることに疑いの余地はない．さらに，高齢化社会において，健康寿命の延伸や生活の質の向上に寄与し，医療費削減にも繋がる可能性がある．