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Pathobiological analysis of ASD by using the co-culture system of immune cells and human iPSC-derived neurons

Research Project

Project/Area Number 22K07586
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeMulti-year Fund
Section一般
Review Section Basic Section 52030:Psychiatry-related
Research InstitutionFujita Health University (2024)
Nara Medical University (2022-2023)

Principal Investigator

Toritsuka Michihiro  藤田医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (20588529)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) 山室 和彦  奈良県立医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (60526721)
Project Period (FY) 2022-04-01 – 2025-03-31
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2024)
Budget Amount *help
¥4,160,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥960,000)
Fiscal Year 2024: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000)
Fiscal Year 2023: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000)
Fiscal Year 2022: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000)
Keywords自閉スペクトラム症 / マクロファージ / iPS細胞 / シナプス / 貪食能 / 炎症性サイトカイン / T細胞 / ヒトiPS細胞 / 炎症
Outline of Research at the Start

ASDの病因・病態は未解明であるが、炎症反応の亢進と免疫系細胞の病態への関与が注目されている。申請者らのグループではASDで機能不全が疑われるマクロファージに着目して解析し、炎症性サイトカインであるTNF-αの発現上昇を見出した。さらに申請者は、マクロファージをヒトiPS細胞由来ニューロンと共培養する実験系で、ASD者のマクロファージは健常者のそれよりもニューロンに悪影響が大きいことを見出しているが、生体内ではこれら炎症反応やマクロファージ/マイクログリアの活性にCD4陽性T細胞の関与が注目されており、細胞培養系でこれら細胞の相互作用とその分子病態を明らかにし、治療薬になりうる薬剤を検索する。

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A growing body of evidence suggests that immune dysfunction and inflammation in the peripheral tissues as well as the central nervous system are associated with the neurodevelopmental deficits observed in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). To elucidate the effect of immune cells on human neurons, we used two methods; a co-culture system of human iPSC-derived neurons and differentiated macrophages instead of microglia, and synaptosome phagocytosis measurement system. Co-culture experiments showed that GM-CSF macrophages affect the dendritic outgrowth of neurons through the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-1α and TNF-α. Macrophages derived from individuals with ASD exerted more severe effects than those derived from TD individuals. Synaptosome phagocytosis measurement revealed impaired synapse phagocytosis of M-CSF macrophages derived from ASD individuals compared to those from TD individuals. These findings may help in the future elucidation of ASD pathobiology.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

今回の研究成果からは、自閉スペクトラム症で想定されている炎症仮説やシナプス仮説を支持する結果が得られた。精神疾患研究において、ヒト脳内のミクログリアを直接採取して観察することは倫理的に不可能であることがネックであった。ミクログリアとマクロファージの表現型の異同については今後の研究により慎重な判断を要するが、末梢血から得られる機能的に類似なマクロファージを用いてこれらの成果が得られたことは、今後のヒト細胞を用いた病態解明や、その先にある新規検査法の開発、新規薬剤の検索において、大変有用で意義深いと考えている。

Report

(4 results)
  • 2024 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report ( PDF )
  • 2023 Research-status Report
  • 2022 Research-status Report
  • Research Products

    (7 results)

All 2025 2024 2022 Other

All Journal Article (2 results) (of which Peer Reviewed: 2 results,  Open Access: 2 results) Presentation (4 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 2 results) Remarks (1 results)

  • [Journal Article] Share Impaired synaptosome phagocytosis in macrophages of individuals with autism spectrum disorder.2025

    • Author(s)
      Nishi Y, Toritsuka M, Takada R, Ishikawa M, Ishida R, Kayashima Y, Yamauchi T, Okumura K, Takeda T, Yamamuro K, Ikehara M, Noriyama Y, Kamikawa K, Murayama S, Ichikawa O, Nagata H, Okano H, Iwata N, Makinodan M.
    • Journal Title

      Molecular Psychiatry

      Volume: in press Issue: 8 Pages: 3837-3845

    • DOI

      10.1038/s41380-025-03002-3

    • Related Report
      2024 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] Granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor-induced macrophages of individuals with autism spectrum disorder adversely affect neuronal dendrites through the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines2024

    • Author(s)
      Takada Ryohei、Toritsuka Michihiro、Yamauchi Takahira、Ishida Rio、Kayashima Yoshinori、Nishi Yuki、Ishikawa Mitsuru、Yamamuro Kazuhiko、Ikehara Minobu、Komori Takashi、Noriyama Yuki、Kamikawa Kohei、Saito Yasuhiko、Okano Hideyuki、Makinodan Manabu
    • Journal Title

      Molecular Autism

      Volume: 15 Issue: 1 Pages: 10-10

    • DOI

      10.1186/s13229-024-00589-2

    • Related Report
      2023 Research-status Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Presentation] Evaluation of phagocytosis in macrophages from individuals with autism spectrum disorder.2024

    • Author(s)
      Yuki Nishi, Ryohei Takada, Michihiro Toritsuka, Rio Ishida, Yoshinori Kayashima, Mitsuru Ishikawa, Takahira Yamauchi, Hiroaki Fukui, Yuya Honda, Hideyuki Okano, Nakao Iwata, Manabu Makinodan
    • Organizer
      16th World Congress of Biological Psychiatry
    • Related Report
      2024 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] 自閉スペクトラム症患者由来マクロファージにおける貪食能の評価2024

    • Author(s)
      西佑記、高田涼平、鳥塚通弘、石田理緒、萱島善徳、神川浩平、竹田奬、石川充、山内崇平、岡野栄之、牧之段学
    • Organizer
      第45回日本生物学的精神医学会年会
    • Related Report
      2023 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] ヒト細胞リソースを用いた精神疾患研究2022

    • Author(s)
      鳥塚通弘
    • Organizer
      BPCNPNPPP4学会合同年会
    • Related Report
      2022 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] Cellular analysis of Autism Spectrum Disorder using co culture system of hiPSC derived neurons and macrophage s from patients2022

    • Author(s)
      Ryohei Takada 1 , Michihiro Toritsuka 1 Takahira Yamauchi 1 , Yoshinori Kayashima 1 , Rio Ishida 1 Yuki Nish i 1 Hiroaki Fukui 1 , Mitsuru Ishikawa 2 , Hideyuki Okano 2 , and Manabu Makinodan 1
    • Organizer
      ISN-APSN meeting
    • Related Report
      2022 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Remarks] 自閉スペクトラム症における 末梢血マクロファージのシナプス除去機能低下を解明

    • URL

      https://www.fujita-hu.ac.jp/news/vsfo8q0000000km1.html

    • Related Report
      2024 Annual Research Report

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Published: 2022-04-19   Modified: 2026-01-16  

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