[Basic Research on Purine Metabolism and Its Clinical Application].

Abstract

I graduated from the Faculty of Pharmacy and then worked in the Faculty of Medicine, and my research has always focused on applying basic research to clinical practice. I first encountered purine metabolism research when I worked at the Teikyo University School of Medicine. I completed my doctoral studies by applying the measurement of 5'-methylthioadenosine (MTA), a source of adenine, to clinical cases. As part of research into hyperuricemia and gout, which are related to purine metabolism, we established a method for measuring the purine content in foods and reported the amounts of purine in many foodstuffs together with previous values. That research project was largely due to the dedication of students working on their graduation research after moving to the Faculty of Pharmacy. The resulting analytical data are included in treatment guidelines for hyperuricemia and gout, and are used as reference values in lifestyle guidance, especially dietary therapy, for actual patients. Furthermore, we performed micro-analysis of urinary stones, which are a common complication in patients with hyperuricemia and gout. In urinary stones, proteins related to inflammation and immunity were commonly detected, as well as proteins that differed depending on the type of stone, indicating different formation processes. I hope that the results of these research projects can be used to benefit society.