Glycobiology-based cellular slow cycling for the development of anti-ageing drugs

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K19712
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 59:Sports sciences, physical education, health sciences, and related fields
• Research Institution: Kagawa University
• Principal Investigator: Akira Nishiyama 香川大学, 医学部, 教授 (10325334)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-06-30 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 老化 / 細胞周期 / 希少糖

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we attempted to demonstrate that the 'cell cycle deceleration' caused by the monosaccharide D-allose, a rare sugar, inhibits cellular senescence, thereby offering a new perspective for the development of anti-aging drugs. As a result, we proved that D-allose slows down the cultured human cell cycle without arresting it, and applied for a patent. Furthermore, we identified D-allose uptake into the cell and its effects on intracellular energy metabolism in mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis. The results of this research provide data strongly suggesting a preventive effect of D-allose on cellular aging via 'cellular slow cycling' at the cellular and biological level, which should lead to the development of a new concept of anti-aging drugs.

Free Research Field

薬理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年、老化を「細胞レベルで生じる疾患」と捉え、細胞老化 (cellular senescence) の分子機構の解明が世界レベルで進んでいるものの、有効な老化予防法は開発されていない。これに対して本研究は、単糖類である希少糖・D-allose によって生じる「細胞周期の減速（細胞スローサイクリング）」が、細胞老化を抑制することを実証したものであることから、全く新しい視点の老化予防薬開発につなげるきっかけとなるものであると考えられ、大きな学術的意義と社会的意義を持つ研究成果であると考えられる。