Strategic research of osteoarthritis for novel therapeutics

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25253087
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Orthopaedic surgery
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Kawaguchi Hiroshi 東京大学, 医学部附属病院, 届出診療医 (40282660)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 鄭 雄一 東京大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (30345053) ; 筑田 博隆 東京大学, 医学部附属病院, 准教授 (30345219) ; 森崎 裕 東京大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (30508099) ; 岡 敬之 東京大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (60401064) ; 乾 洋 東京大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (60583119)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 整形外科学 / 関節病学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have investigated molecular mechanisms of osteoarthritis in this project, and we have identified that Notch and NF-kappaB signaling pathways play essential roles in osteoarthritis development. In Notch-related genes, Jag1-Notch-Hes1 pathway is most important, and inhibition of this pathway suppressed osteoarthritis. Complete inhibition of NF-kappaB caused chondrocyte apoptosis, and resulted in enhancement of osteoarthritis. In contrast, osteoarthritis was suppressed when NF-kappaB was inhibited partially, indicating that NF-kappaB regulation is essential for cartilage homeostasis.

Free Research Field

整形外科学