Control of cell differentiation by ultrasound through epigenetic mechanisms

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26560205
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Biomedical engineering/Biomaterial science and engineering
• Research Institution: University of Toyama
• Principal Investigator: TABUCHI YOSHIAKI 富山大学, 研究推進機構 研究推進総合支援センター, 教授 (20322109)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 超音波

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Using fish scales in which osteoclasts and osteoblasts coexist, we identified that mRNA expression levels of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and cathepsin K, important molecules of osteoclast activation, were significantly increased with a single low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS; 30 mW/cm2, 20 min) treatment. Moreover, 2 weeks after daily LIPUS exposure, either the osteoblastic marker enzyme activity or the regeneration rate of the scales was significantly increased in LIPUS-treated groups. In mouse preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells, the protein expression level of trimethyl histone H3 (Lys9) was significantly elevated in the cells treated with a single LIPUS exposure. These findings will provide a molecular basis for further understanding of the mechanisms of LIPUS in bone cells.

Free Research Field

細胞生理学