Regulatory mechanism of milk secretion by temperature-sensitive TRP channels

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26450441
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Integrative animal science
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Kobayashi Ken 北海道大学, 農学研究院, 准教授 (30449003)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 乳分泌 / 乳腺上皮細胞 / TRPチャネル / TRPM8 / TRPV4 / 乳成分 / 温度受容体

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Temperature-sensitive TRP channels are function as peripheral temperature sensors expressed in several cells. During lactation, mammary epithelial cells express TRPV4 and TRPM8, which are activated at warm and cool temperature, respectively. However, it remains unclear whether TRPV4 and TRPM8 are involved in milk secretion in mammary epithelial cells. In this study, we activated the TRPV4 and TRPM8 by using specific chemical agonists in the culture model of lactating mammary epithelial cells. The results showed that activation of TRPV4 decreased the cell number and inhibited milk production in the mammary epithelial cells TRPM8 activation also down-regulated the milk secretion ability of the mammary epithelial cells without the decrease in cell number. These results indicate that milk secretion of the mammary epithelial cells is regulated by surrounding temperature through activation of TRPV4 or TRPM8.

Free Research Field

上皮組織の細胞生物学