The role of Reg family in pancreatitis

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K08405
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 53010:Gastroenterology-related
• Research Institution: Hyogo Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Ohmuraya Masaki 兵庫医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (60398229)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 福井 広一 兵庫医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (60378742)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: Reg / 急性膵炎 / 膵星細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Regenerating islet-derived (Reg) family proteins express in various mammalian tissues with multiple functions. They can also be induced after pancreas damage. To investigate the role of Reg in the pancreas following injury, we generated Reg1-3 deficient (Reg-/-) mice and examined them during cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis (AP) or cerulein and lipopolysaccharide-induced severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Reg-/- mice showed no abnormalities in pancreas development and growth, did not affect the severity of pancreatitis or against pancreatic apoptosis in both AP and SAP model, and failed to stimulate pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs). We therefore conclude that Reg proteins might act to stimulate the PSCs contributing to pancreas repair.

Free Research Field

膵臓病学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

慢性膵炎は膵内の持続的な炎症により、膵外分泌細胞の脱落と線維化を特徴とする原因不明の慢性炎症性疾患である。膵外分泌、内分泌機能の低下による消化・吸収障害、糖尿病に加え、膵癌を高頻度に併発することから、原因の解明と治療法の開発が急がれている。その線維化の中心的な役割を果たすのが膵星細胞であり、同細胞をいかに制御するか、に注目が集まっている。
本研究課題ではその制御機構の一つとして、Reg遺伝子に注目し、解析を行ったものであり、Regを介した膵星細胞の活性化機構の解明が新たな治療標的となる可能性がある。