Spinal cord environment: elucidating the mechanism of neurodegeneration through glia-neuron interaction

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Brain Environment
• Project/Area Number: 23111006
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Biological Sciences
• Research Institution: Nagoya University (2013-2015); The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (2011-2012)
• Principal Investigator: Yamanaka Koji 名古屋大学, 環境医学研究所, 教授 (80446533)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): MISAWA Hidemi 慶應義塾大学, 薬学部, 教授 (80219617)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): YAMASHITA Hirofumi 京都大学, 医学研究科, 講師 (60402913) ; MORIWAKI Yasuhiro 慶應義塾大学, 薬学部, 講師 (00392150)
• Research Collaborator: KOMINE Okiru 名古屋大学, 環境医学研究所, 助教 (00456211) ; WATANABE Seiji 名古屋大学, 環境医学研究所, 助教 (70633577) ; ENDO Fumito 名古屋大学, 環境医学研究所, 特任助教 (10713307)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 神経変性疾患 / グリア

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We aimed to elucidate the mechanism for glial cells in recognition and response to neurodegeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We identified an innate immune adaptor, TRIF and astrocyte derived cytokine, TGF-β1 as a detrimental factor of ALS related to glial cells. In addition, we found that osteopontin (OPN), known as a immune and inflammatory mediator, expressed specifically in motor neurons resistant to degeneration in ALS, and modified neuroinflammation through secretion to neighboring glial cells.

Free Research Field

神経内科学