2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Exploration of the Mechanisms Underlying the Exacerbation of Periodontitis Targeting Elastase
Project/Area Number |
21K21058
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Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
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Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
Review Section |
0907:Oral science and related fields
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Research Institution | Niigata University |
Principal Investigator |
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Project Period (FY) |
2021-08-30 – 2023-03-31
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Keywords | 歯周炎 / 好中球 / エラスターゼ / エラスターゼ阻害剤 / 歯肉上皮バリア |
Outline of Final Research Achievements |
Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease characterized by an excessive accumulation of neutrophils. Elastase, a protease intrinsic to neutrophils, has been reported to contribute to the exacerbation of periodontitis, but the detailed mechanism has remained unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that elastase damages the barrier function of the gingival epithelium by degrading human cell adhesion molecules, exacerbating periodontitis. Furthermore, in the mouse model of periodontitis treated with an elastase inhibitor, alveolar bone loss was suppressed, suggesting the potential of the elastase inhibitor as a novel periodontitis therapeutic.
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Free Research Field |
保存治療系歯学
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Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
本研究は,これまで不明であったエラスターゼによる歯周炎重症化機序を明らかにした点において学術的意義が高い.また,歯周組織中のエラスターゼを阻害することが歯周炎の重症化を抑制することも示唆された.近年薬剤耐性菌の進行が世界的な問題となっているが, エラスターゼ阻害剤を用いた歯周炎治療へのアプローチは,薬剤耐性菌を生じない新規歯周炎治療法の開発につながる可能性がある.
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