Elucidation of the mechanism of the development of pressure ulcer by zinc deficiency

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K17793
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 53050:Dermatology-related
• Research Institution: Gunma University
• Principal Investigator: Uehara Akihito 群馬大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (70828508)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 亜鉛 / 褥瘡 / 皮膚

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We found that dietary zinc deficiency caused the formation of severe and prolonged PUs in mice. Zinc deficiency increased the vascular disorder, oxidative stress, and apoptosis induced by cutaneous I/R injury. I/R injury-induced oxidative stress signals were significantly higher in ZD OKD48 mice than in ZA OKD48 mice. Additionally, zinc deficiency reduced the number of LCs and increased the amount of ATP in cutaneous I/R-injured skin. Oral supplementation of zinc improved zinc deficiency-associated PUs.
Zinc deficiency might increase cutaneous I/R injury-induced vascular damages, oxidative stress, and apoptosis, as well as ATP amount in I/R area due to the loss of LCs. These mechanisms might partly account for zinc deficiency-induced formation of severe and prolonged PUs. Oral supplementation of zinc might be a reasonable therapeutic choice for patients with PUs and zinc deficiency.

Free Research Field

皮膚科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

マウスの褥瘡モデルにおいて食事によって亜鉛欠乏症に至らせたマウスでは褥瘡が悪化し、改善しづらいことを示した。
臨床的には、亜鉛欠乏症にて褥瘡の悪化が起こる機序と考えられた。亜鉛を投与することが亜鉛欠乏症患者の褥瘡の治療の選択肢になることが考えられた。
高齢化社会において、褥瘡の予防や治療について研究することは社会的な意義があると考えられる。