| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
Multiple sclerosis is a disease in which the myelin sheath, formed around neuronal axons, is destroyed, leading to impairments in motor, sensory, and cognitive functions. In recent years, it has become clear that the activation of glial cells in the central nervous system induces neuroinflammation and promotes demyelination. We have discovered that NAD+, a molecule involved in cellular energy production, has the effect of suppressing this neuroinflammation and alleviating demyelination. Furthermore, through collaborative research with the University of Iowa, we have elucidated the molecular mechanisms of neuroinflammation involving CD38, an enzyme that degrades NAD+. Understanding these neuroinflammatory mechanisms in glial cells is expected to contribute to the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and aging.
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