The role of Id4 in salivary gland differentiation and homeostasis

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K17003
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57010:Oral biological science-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Yano Ena (清川恵奈) 九州大学, 歯学研究院, 共同研究員 (40805678)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: Id4 / 唾液腺

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The principle investigator of this research focused on Id4, which was identified through miRNA-RNA comprehensive integrated analysis using the salivary glands of young and old mice, and miR486-5p, which regulates the expression of Id4 to investigate the regulation of salivary gland differentiation and homeostasis. As a result, it was revealed that the increased expression of miR486-5p and decreased expression of Id4 were induced during aging processes in the salivary glands, and that miR486-5p directly controls the expression of Id4, and Id4 deficiency causes abnormal differentiation of salivary gland cells.
These data strongly suggests that Id4 is essential for differentiation and maintenance of homeostasis in salivary glands.

Free Research Field

生化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまでに、骨芽細胞や脂肪細胞、乳腺上皮細胞の分化制御にId4が寄与しているという報告はあるものの、唾液腺におけるId4の解析は全く行われてこなかった。そのため、本研究の研究結果が、唾液腺の分化・老化やホメオスタシス制御機構を理解する上で非常に重要な知見が提示された。また、本研究によって得られる知見は、加齢による口腔乾燥症の治療法や、唾液腺再生研究の発展に寄与することとなり、有意義である。