Investigation of stress response mechanism of chondrocytes by reproduction of physiological hypoxic environment

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26462312
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Orthopaedic surgery
• Research Institution: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Arai Yuji 京都府立医科大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (50347449)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 久保 俊一 京都府立医科大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (20178031) ; 中川 周士 京都府立医科大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 助教 (30643382) ; 土田 真嗣 京都府立医科大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 助教 (10719834)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: HIF-1α / hyaluronic acid / CD44 / articular cartilage / extracellular matrix / hypoxia

Outline of Final Research Achievements

High molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HA) is widely used clinically as an intra-articular injection for osteoarthritis, but the pharmacological effect under hypoxic condition is not clear. The purpose of this study is to clarify the effect of HA on articular cartilage under hypoxia. It was revealed that the cartilage assimilatory pharmacological action of the exogenous macromolecule HA on articular cartilage is promoted in hypoxic condition. As a mechanism, it was shown that the expression of CD44 was enhanced by the HIF-1α pathway and the binding affinity to the exogenous polymer HA was improved. Maintaining the hypoxic environment around chondrocytes is important for exerting the anabolic effect of exogenous high molecular weight HA.

Free Research Field

chondrocyte