Optogenetic control of differentiation into oligodendrocytes

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K18337
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Neurophysiology / General neuroscience
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Ono Kenji 名古屋大学, 環境医学研究所, 助教 (80329698)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: オプトジェネティクス / オリゴデンドロサイト / NG2グリア前駆細胞 / 細胞分化 / 脱髄

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We examined optogenetic control of oligodendrocyte differentiation from channelrhodopsin-2(ChR2)-expressing glial progenitors by photo-activation. When ChR2-expressing glial progenitors were exposed to blue light, the increases in intracellular Na+ and Ca2+ concentrations occurred. It triggered activation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling and resulted in oligodendrocyte differentiation from glial progenitors. Moreover, when NG2-ChR2 mice, which NG2 glial progenitors expressed ChR2-EYFP, were induced demyelination using lysophosphatidylcholine treatment, photo-activated glial progenitors around demyelinated regions differentiated into oligodendrocytes, and deficits in motor function were reduced. These results suggest that ChR2-expressing glial progenitors have potential as a useful tool for therapeutic approaches to brain and spinal cord disorders associated with oligodendrocyte dysfunctions.

Free Research Field

神経科学