CCN2-oriented anti-cancer drug screening

2024 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K17104
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57060:Surgical dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Health Sciences University of Hokkaido
• Principal Investigator: Horie Naohiro 北海道医療大学, 歯学部, 助教 (30802318)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2025-03-31
• Keywords: CCN2 / shRNA / 骨芽細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Objective: To analyze the effect of CCN2 on osteoblasts. Methods: First, CCN2 knockdown osteoblasts; sh(+) and control cells; sh(-) were established in MC3T3-E1 cells by applying shRNA, and PCR analysis was performed. Afterwards, osteoblast differentiation was conducted in each cell group and ALP staining was performed. Finally, RNA sequencing was performed to compare the results between groups. Results: Bone-related genes were increased in the sh(+) group, and more ALP-positive cells were observed in the sh(+) group. Ocstamp gene expression was increased in the sh(+) group. Discussion: Knockdown of the CCN2 gene in MC3T3-E1 cells was hypothesized to increase bone remodeling by promoting differentiation of these cells into bone and activating osteoclasts.

Free Research Field

口腔外科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で樹立したCCN2ノックダウン骨芽細胞は，骨リモデリングに関与するシグナル伝達研究への応用が期待されると共に，がんの骨浸潤や骨転移といった病態研究・抗がん剤の創薬研究にも役立つ可能性がある。故に，本研究成果は学術的・社会的両方の面で高い意義を持つといえる。