Elucidation of the mechanism of wound healing by extracellular vesicles as intercellular communication tools

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K10038
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56070:Plastic and reconstructive surgery-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Science
• Principal Investigator: Shimonaka Motoyuki 東京理科大学, 理学部第一部化学科, 教授 (30277272)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 創傷治癒 / エクソソーム / 灌流培養 / 血管内皮細胞 / 線維芽細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In order to investigate the wound healing mechanism under conditions close to those in physiological states, we established the perfusion cell culture model system using vascular endothelial cells and fibroblast cells. When the effects of exosomes on vascular injury repair were investigated using this system, it was found that exosomes secreted from both cells promoted injury repair. Furthermore, as exosomes secreted from damaged vascular endothelial cells delayed injury repair compared to exosomes secreted from normal endothelial cells, it was clarified that exosomes controlled the injury repair process depending on the conditions of secreting cells. It was also demonstrated that plasminogen promoted the proliferation and migration of vascular endothelial cells, and exosomes coordinately promoted injury repair by controlling the direction of the cell migration.

Free Research Field

生化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

血管内皮細胞と線維芽細胞による灌流培養系を確立し，エクソソームによる創傷治癒過程の制御機構を解析した。この結果は，正常細胞が分泌するエクソソームの新たな役割を提示するとともに，血漿成分とエクソソームとの協調作用が損傷修復に重要な役割を担っていることを示すものである。これら因子についての詳細をさらに検討し臨床レベルの研究に応用することにより，外科的治療を受けている全ての患者に大いなる利益をもたらす「瘢痕なき治癒」へ向けた第一歩になることが期待される。