Application of REIC/Dkk-3 gene therapy on gastrointestinal cancers targeting cancer stem cells

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24591943
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Digestive surgery
• Research Institution: Okayama University of Science
• Principal Investigator: KATAOKA Ken 岡山理科大学, 理学部, 准教授 (10293317)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): SAKAGUCHI Masakiyo 岡山大学, 医歯薬学総合研究科, 准教授 (70379840) ; MURATA Hitoshi 岡山大学, 医歯薬学総合研究科, 助教 (90579096)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: REIC/Dkk-3 / がん遺伝子治療 / 腸管上皮組織 / 皮膚組織 / TNF-α

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Detailed screening of REIC/Dkk-3 expression revealed that REIC/Dkk-3 was localized in stem cells niche of skin and intestinal epithelium. REIC/Dkk-3 expression was also observed in three-dimensional cultured Caco-2 spheroids. To identify factor(s) regulating REIC/Dkk-3 expression in keratinocytes, we screened growth factors and cytokines that were reported to involved in keratinocyte growth and differentiation. Only TNF-alpha could down-regulate REIC/Dkk-3 in normal skin keratinocytes among seven factors we screened. The data suggest that expression balance of REIC/Dkk-3 and TNF-alpha adjust the skin tissue (re)modeling by skin keratinocytes and endothelial cells.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学