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The study of molecularly targeted drug RNA aptamer for treatments for sporadic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Research Project

Project/Area Number 17K09747
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeMulti-year Fund
Section一般
Research Field Neurology
Research InstitutionThe University of Tokyo

Principal Investigator

Akamatsu Megumi  東京大学, 医学部附属病院, 特任研究員 (00753675)

Project Period (FY) 2017-04-01 – 2023-03-31
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2022)
Budget Amount *help
¥4,680,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,080,000)
Fiscal Year 2019: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000)
Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000)
Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000)
KeywordsALS治療薬 / RNAアプタマー / ALSモデル / カルシウム透過性 / 運動ニューロン / ADAR2 / ALSモデルマウス / 孤発性筋萎縮性側索硬化症 / 分子標的治療薬 / アプタマー / 運動ニューロン死 / AMPA受容体
Outline of Final Research Achievements

In motor neurons of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients, the RNA editing at the glutamine/arginine site of the GluA2 subunit of AMPA receptors is defective or incomplete. As a result, AMPA receptors containing the abnormally expressed unedited isoform of GluA2 are highly Ca2+ permeable, thereby triggering motor neuron degeneration and cell death. Thus, blocking abnormal Ca2+ influx is a potential therapeutic strategy for treatment of sporadic ALS. In this study, I evaluated the efficacy and safety of three RNA aptamers targeting AMPA receptors on the ALS phenotype of ALS model mice (AR2 mice). A 12-week continuous, intracerebroventricular administration of aptamers to AR2 mice reduced the progression of motor dysfunction, improved TDP-43 mislocalization, and prevented death of motor neurons. This results demonstrate that the use of AMPA receptor aptamers as a novel class of AMPA receptor antagonists is a promising strategy for developing an ALS treatment approach.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

筋萎縮性側索硬化症(ALS)は、現在までに有効な治療方法がなく、効果的で安全な治療法が早期に期待される神経変性疾患である。近年では神経保護的な薬剤や核酸医薬などの遺伝子治療なども多く検討されている。本研究では未編集型AMPA受容体における異常なカルシウムイオン流入による神経細胞死を抑制することに着目している。RNAアプタマーはAMPA受容体のサブユニット特異性が高いことより、他のAMPA受容体阻害薬に比べて、副作用として生じる鎮静効果も少ないことから安全性も高いと思われる。またALS以外にもてんかんや一部の認知症などにも応用が可能な治療法であることから、社会的意義は高いものと考えている。

Report

(7 results)
  • 2022 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report ( PDF )
  • 2021 Research-status Report
  • 2020 Research-status Report
  • 2019 Research-status Report
  • 2018 Research-status Report
  • 2017 Research-status Report
  • Research Products

    (9 results)

All 2022 2019 2018 2017 Other

All Int'l Joint Research (1 results) Journal Article (4 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 1 results,  Peer Reviewed: 4 results,  Open Access: 3 results) Presentation (4 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 3 results)

  • [Int'l Joint Research] ニューヨーク州立大学オールバニー校(米国)

    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
  • [Journal Article] Testing of the therapeutic efficacy and safety of AMPA receptor RNA aptamers in an ALS mouse model2022

    • Author(s)
      Akamatsu Megumi、Yamashita Takenari、Teramoto Sayaka、Huang Zhen、Lynch Janet、Toda Tatsushi、Niu Li、Kwak Shin
    • Journal Title

      Life Science Alliance

      Volume: 5 Issue: 4 Pages: e202101193-e202101193

    • DOI

      10.26508/lsa.202101193

    • Related Report
      2021 Research-status Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Journal Article] Altered intracellular milieu of ADAR2-deficient motor neurons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis2017

    • Author(s)
      Yamashita T, Akamatsu M, Kwak S
    • Journal Title

      Genes

      Volume: 8(2)-60 Issue: 2 Pages: 60-60

    • DOI

      10.3390/genes8020060

    • Related Report
      2017 Research-status Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] Calpain-dependent disruption of nucleo-cytoplasmic transport in ALS motor neurons.2017

    • Author(s)
      Yamashita T, Aizawa H, Teramoto S, Akamatsu M, Kwak S
    • Journal Title

      Sci Reports

      Volume: 7-39994 Issue: 1

    • DOI

      10.1038/srep39994

    • Related Report
      2017 Research-status Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] 孤発性ALSの病態と治療ーAMPA受容体阻害薬による筋萎縮性側索硬化症治療の可能性2017

    • Author(s)
      赤松 恵、山下 雄也、郭 伸
    • Journal Title

      神経治療学

      Volume: 34-2 Pages: 86-94

    • Related Report
      2017 Research-status Report
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Presentation] An AMPA receptor subunit-specific RNA aptamer rescued ALS phenotype in AR2 mice2019

    • Author(s)
      Megumi Akamatsu, Takenari Yamashita, Sayaka Teramoto, Zhen Huang, Tatsushi Toda, Li Niu, Shin Kwak
    • Organizer
      The 42th Annual Meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] RNA aptamer as a potential drug candidate for ALS - rescue of clinicopathologic ALS phenotype in model mice2018

    • Author(s)
      Megumi Akamatsu, Takenari Yamashita, Sayaka Teramoto, Zhen Huang, Li Niu, Shin Kwak
    • Organizer
      5th RNA Metabolism in Neurological Disease Conference
    • Related Report
      2018 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Target therapy for ALS with RNA aptamers - rescue of ALS phenotype resulting from loss of motor neurons with TDP-43 pathology in ALS model mice2018

    • Author(s)
      Megumi Akamatsu, Takenari Yamashita, Sayaka Teramoto, Zhen Huang, Li Niu, Shin Kwak
    • Organizer
      Society for Neuroscience, Neuroscience 2018, annual meeting
    • Related Report
      2018 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] AMPA receptor-specific RNA aptamers rescued ALS phenotype in conditional ADAR2 knockout mice2018

    • Author(s)
      Megumi Akamatsu, Takenari Yamashita, Sayaka Teramoto, Zhen Huang, Li Niu, Shin Kwak
    • Organizer
      29th International Symposium on ALS/MND
    • Related Report
      2018 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research

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Published: 2017-04-28   Modified: 2024-01-30  

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