Regulation of bone formation by histone demethylase

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K16732
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56020:Orthopedics-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku University (2023); The University of Tokyo (2022)
• Principal Investigator: ARAI Makoto 東北大学, 医学系研究科, 助教 (10865059)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 骨代謝 / エピゲノム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Anti-osteoporosis medications have redressed the imbalance between bone resorption and formation. But options to restore bone formation are scarce. Also, bone remodeling is an unremitting process which we hypothesized to be modulated by epigenetic regulations.
Here we aimed to elucidate epigenetic mechanisms of bone formation and their significance in pathological conditions. Through single cell RNA-sequencing, we identified a certain epigenetic enzyme which can modulate bone formation. Its knockout mice showed higher bone volume due to increased bone formation. Now we are uncovering its mode of action in detail.

Free Research Field

骨代謝

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

超高齢化社会を迎え、骨粗鬆症は増加の一途をたどっている。骨粗鬆症は骨折を介して移動を含めた生活全般の機能を低下させるだけでなく、生命予後にも悪影響を及ぼしている。こうした社会的要請に応えるべく骨粗鬆症治療薬が開発されているが、それでも骨折発生数を抑えているとは言い難い。
こうした背景を鑑みて、本研究では治療介入の余地の大きい骨形成に注目した。本研究によって骨形成のエピゲノム制御機構の一端が明らかにされたことで、今後の治療選択肢の拡充につながることが期待される。