Cherubism-like Jawbone Expansion in Mice Reveals Unrecognized Contributions of Neutrophils to Cherubism Pathogenesis

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K17098
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57060:Surgical dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Fujii Yasuyuki 東京医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (90829748)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 遺伝性骨疾患 / 骨代謝

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Cherubism (CBM), characterized by expansile jawbones with multilocular fibrocystic lesions, is caused by gain-of-function mutations in SH3 domain-binding protein 2.We hypothesize that bony inflammation of an unknown cause triggers jawbone expansion in CBM. Bacterial invasion from the exposed pulp resulted in jawbone expansion in Sh3bp2KI/+ and Sh3bp2KI/KI mice. CBM-like lesions developed exacerbated inflammation with increased neutrophil, and these lesions displayed excessive neutrophil extracellular traps. Our study reveals a previously unrecognized role of neutrophils that may play a vital role in promoting CBM lesions

Free Research Field

骨代謝学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

不明な点が多い希少遺伝性疾患の発症メカニズムの解明に繋がる基礎的な知見を得ることができた。本研究の成果はこれまで不明であったCBMのバイオマーカーや新規治療ターゲットの発見に繋がり、CBMの診断や治療にパラダイムシフトをもたらす可能性が高いと考えている。また、本研究の成果は他の炎症性骨疾患の理解や治療への応用も期待できる。