Molecular hydrogen attenuates UV-induced tissue injury in Caenorhabditis elegans and mouse

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24590768
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Hygiene
• Research Institution: Chubu University
• Principal Investigator: ICHIHARA Masatoshi 中部大学, 生命健康科学部, 教授 (00314013)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): MURAKUMO Yoshiki 北里大学, 医学部, 教授 (40324438) ; SOBUE Sayaka 中部大学, 臨床検査技術教育・実習センター, 助教 (50513347) ; IWAMOTO Takashi 中部大学, 生命健康科学部, 教授 (60223426)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 分子状水素 / 紫外線 / 皮膚癌 / 線虫 / 炎症

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Molecular hydrogen (H2) is an agent with potential applications in oxidative stress-related and/or inflammatory disorders. In this study, we investigated whether H2 attenuates UV-induced tissue injury. We first demonstrated that H2 protected Caenorhabditis elegans from high-dose UV exposure and extends its lifespan. We next examined whether H2 modified the history of UV-induced skin tumors in hairless mice and found that H2 delayed skin tumor development in its early phase. We also found that H2 repressed UV-induced skin inflammation, suggesting that modified skin inflammation may lead to delayed onset of UV-induced skin tumors. Therefore, we concluded that H2 may prevent UV-induced tissue injury including UV-induced malignant skin tumors.

Free Research Field

実験病理