Development of a novel diagnostic method for renal oxygen homeostasis disorders using urine exosomes

2024 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23K21274
• Project/Area Number (Other): 21H02363 (2021-2023)
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund (2024); Single-year Grants (2021-2023)
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 42020:Veterinary medical science-related
• Research Institution: University of Miyazaki
• Principal Investigator: Ikeda Masahiro 宮崎大学, 農学部, 教授 (60281218)
• Project Period (FY): 2024-04-01 – 2025-03-31
• Keywords: 腎薬理学 / 低酸素 / 酸化ストレス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Oxygen homeostasis in the kidney is maintained by two master regulators, including NF-E2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF). Their activities detected by biomarkers (BM) are useful for early diagnosis of kidney disease. We searched BM reflecting NRF2 or HIF activity using urinary extracellular vesicles (exosomes). As a result, it was thought that obtaining reliable data for HIF would be difficult due to the inability to collect sufficient samples; however, it may be possible to detect NRF2 activity by using the Pirin gene in urinary extracellular vesicles. Based on these results, it is anticipated that future clinical studies will progress.

Free Research Field

獣医薬理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

腎特異的な酸素状態の変化を非侵襲的に早期に検出する技術の開発は思いの外難しい。その理由は、全身性の酸素状態の変化との区別が容易でないからである。しかし、由来が腎細胞である細胞外小胞をソースとしたバイオマーカー（BM）を用いるとその問題をクリアできる。我々の、腎特異的な酸素状態の変化を細胞外小胞BMによって検出できる可能性を示す研究成果は、生理機構の破綻から発生する病態を描出する新技術であり、細胞外小胞バイオロジー分野に新しい視座をもたらす。加えて、人医、獣医両領域の腎臓病を克服するための早期診断法の開発において、重要な意義を持つ。