A research group led by Professor Kenichi Yamada of the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University has developed a technology (fluorescent probe) for detecting intermediates called "lipid radicals" that are generated when fat in the body is oxidized, and the lipid radicals are actually used. It announced that it has revealed that it plays an extremely important role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.The results of this research were published online in the international scientific journal "Nature Chemical Biology" dated June 6.
It is becoming clear that the fat in the human body "rusts", that is, is oxidized, causing various diseases.In the process of oxidizing these fats, intermediates called "lipid radicals" that show extremely high reactivity are generated, and the damage is diffused and amplified in a chain and explosive manner.However, these intermediates have been difficult to detect and analyze due to their high reactivity.
The research group has now succeeded in developing a fluorescent probe that emits green light by selectively reacting with lipid radicals.Furthermore, it was clarified for the first time that lipid radicals occur in the early stage of cancer onset in hepatocellular carcinoma model animals and play an extremely important role in the subsequent cancer formation process.In fact, suppression of lipid radical production in liver cancer model animals significantly reduced cancer incidence.
The "lipid radical" that was successfully detected this time is presumed to be involved in many diseases such as lifestyle-related diseases.By applying the technology developed this time to various diseases, it is thought that the mechanism of the disease can be elucidated and new preventive / therapeutic methods can be developed, and further research will be carried out.
