Basic analysis for developing dementia preventing foods via regulating epigenetics

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K00814
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Eating habits
• Research Institution: Koshien University
• Principal Investigator: Nagai Kaoru 甲子園大学, 栄養学部, 教授 (20340953)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 認知症 / ヒストン脱アセチル化酵素 / ミトコンドリア

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Since dementia is hardly cured after onset, prevention in the daily life before onset is important. Consumption of effective molecules by diet is one of the way to the prevention. In this study, we analyzed if some dietary molecules, which showed neuroprotective activities against endoplasmic reticulum stress and oxidative stress, regulates epigenetics, especially histone deacetylase (Hdac) activities and other intracellular mechanisms for neuroprotection. I found that Hdac 1, 3 specific inhibitor MS275 protects neuronal cells and increased mitochondrial amount. ClassIII Hdac activating molecule nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) also increased mitochondrial amount and protected the cells from oxidative stress. Our data suggests that regulation of Hdac activity by nutritional molecules will contribute to the development of functional foods via novel mechanisms for preventing dementia.

Free Research Field

生化学、神経科学、栄養学