Identification and functional analysis of choline transporters in respiratory tract fibroblasts

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24592583
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Otorhinolaryngology
• Research Institution: Tokyo Women's Medical University
• Principal Investigator: NONAKA MANABU 東京女子医科大学, 医学部, 臨床教授 (70271351)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): INAZU Masato 東京医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (00297269)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: コリントランスポーター / 線維芽細胞 / 慢性鼻副鼻腔炎

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Choline is essential for the synthesis of major membrane phospholipid phosphatidylcholine and neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Elevated levels of choline and up-regulated choline kinase activity have been detected in cancer cells. We found that choline transporter-proteins (CTLs) are highly expressed in nasal polyp fibroblasts and are also involved in abnormal proliferation. Identification of this new CTLs-mediated choline transporter system provides a potential new target for therapeutic intervention.

Free Research Field

耳鼻咽喉科学