장 재생, organ regeneration,

 

 

국내 연구팀이 쥐 연구를 통해 손상된 장의 재생 과정에서 핵심적인 역할을 수행하는 단백질의 기능을 규명했다. 만성 장 질환 환자의 회복 가능성을 높이고 합병증을 줄일 치료법 개발과 재생의학 응용에 도움이 될 것으로 기대된다.

서울대는 백성희 생명과학부 교수팀이 구본경 기초과학연구원(IBS) 유전체교정연구단장, 김종경 포스텍 생명과학과 교수, 김익수 가천대 의대 교수와 공동 연구를 통해 장 줄기세포의 복구와 재생을 이끄는 핵심 단백질 'PHF16'의 기능과 재생줄기세포, 장 줄기세포의 상호작용을 규명했다고 밝혔다.

최근 손상된 장 재생 과정에서 재생줄기세포(Revival stem cell)라는 새로운 줄기세포의 존재가 밝혀지며 과학자들의 관심을 모았다. 장 내피세포에서 생성된 재생줄기세포는 방사선 등으로 손상된 장 줄기세포로 분화될 수 있다. 재생줄기세포는 장을 단순히 손상 이전 상태로 복구하는 데 그치지 않고 더 건강하고 강화된 장 조직을 재구성할 잠재력을 가지고 있는 것으로 알려졌다.

연구팀은 손상된 장에서 일어나는 재생 과정을 더 자세히 파악하기 위해 PHF16이라는 단백질의 역할을 파악하는 실험을 진행했다.

먼저 다양한 쥐 조직에서 PHF16이 발현되는 수준을 비교한 결과 PHF16은 장에서 발현이 높았다. 특히 장 줄기세포가 많은 부분에서 높은 수준으로 발현돼 PHF16이 장 재생 과정에 중요한 단백질이라는 사실이 확인됐다. PHF16이 결핍된 쥐는 손상된 장의 재생이 제대로 이뤄지지 않고 복구가 지연됐다.

연구팀은 나아가 PHF16과 결합하는 단백질 등 분자 수준에서 재생 메커니즘을 규명해 재생줄기세포와 장 줄기세포의 상호작용을 심층적으로 밝혔다. PHF16이 장 줄기세포의 복구·재생을 이끄는 핵심 단백질로 줄기세포 활성화와 분화를 조절해 장 재생을 돕는다는 사실을 확인한 것이다.

연구결과는 장 손상 치료를 위한 표적 치료제 등 신약 개발 가능성을 열었다는 점에서 의의가 있다. 이번 연구에서 밝혀진 재생 유도 메커니즘은 장 조직뿐 아니라 다양한 조직에서 일어나는 재생 과정의 근본 원리를 이해하는 데도 기여할 것으로 기대된다.

 

 

A Korean research team has identified the function of proteins that play a key role in the regeneration of damaged intestines through a mouse study. It is expected to help patients with chronic intestinal disease develop treatments that increase the possibility of recovery and reduce complications, as well as the application of regenerative medicine.

Seoul National University announced that a team led by Professor Baek Sung-hee of the Department of Life Sciences identified the function of PHF16 and the interaction of regenerative stem cells and intestinal stem cells through joint research with Koo Bon-kyung, head of Genome Correction Research at the Institute of Basic Science (IBS), Kim Jong-kyung, professor of life science at POSTECH, and Kim Ik-soo, professor of Gachon University Medical School.

Recently, during the damaged intestinal regeneration process, the existence of new stem cells called regenerative stem cells was revealed, which attracted the attention of scientists. Regenerative stem cells produced by intestinal endothelial cells can be differentiated into damaged intestinal stem cells due to radiation. Regenerative stem cells are known to have the potential to reconstruct healthier and stronger intestinal tissue, not just to restore the intestine to its pre-damaged state.

The research team conducted an experiment to determine the role of a protein called PHF16 in order to further understand the regeneration process that occurs in the damaged intestine.

First, as a result of comparing the level of PHF16 expression in various mouse tissues, PHF16 was highly expressed in the intestine. In particular, it was confirmed that PHF16 is an important protein in the intestinal regeneration process as intestinal stem cells were expressed at high levels in many areas. Rats lacking PHF16 did not regenerate their damaged intestines properly and their recovery was delayed.

Furthermore, the research team identified the regeneration mechanism at the molecular level, such as proteins that bind to PHF16, and revealed the interaction between regenerative stem cells and intestinal stem cells in depth. PHF16 is a key protein that leads to the repair and regeneration of intestinal stem cells and helps intestinal regeneration by regulating stem cell activation and differentiation.

The research results are significant in that they have opened up the possibility of developing new drugs such as targeted treatments for the treatment of intestinal damage. The regeneration induction mechanism revealed in this study is expected to contribute to understanding the fundamental principles of the regeneration process occurring in various tissues as well as intestinal tissues.