Hierarchical cellular response to mechanical stress in of the periodontal ligament

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K17179
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57070:Developmental dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Niigata University
• Principal Investigator: Kitami Kohei 新潟大学, 医歯学系, 助教 (20804579)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 歯根膜 / 機械的刺激 / 幹細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Periodontal tissues, including the periodontal ligament, maintain their structure while being extremely sensitive to mechanical stimuli. However, we still don't fully understand how these tissues receive mechanical stimuli or how they control the behaviour of stem cells, which are crucial for tissue remodelling. In this study, we have used genetic techniques to create an experimental animal model that allows us to track the behaviour of stem cells in periodontal ligament tissue and investigate the effects of deleting molecules that are important for sensing mechanical stimuli. So far, we have successfully developed a system that can detect periodontal ligament stem cells with high precision, and we are currently carrying out functional analysis.

Free Research Field

歯科矯正学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

歯根膜組織の幹細胞は、力学的刺激に敏感に反応しながら組織の構造を保持しています。しかし、その制御メカニズムはまだ完全に解明されていません。本研究では、歯根膜組織幹細胞の追跡を可能にする動物実験モデルを構築し、力学的刺激に関連する分子の欠失がどのような影響を及ぼすかを解析しています。これまでのところ高解像度で幹細胞を検出するシステムの構築に成功し、現在はその詳細な機能解析を進めています。本研究成果は、歯を支える組織の生物学的な謎を解き明かし、将来的により良い治療法の開発につながるものです。