The role of tumor suppressor Wwox in rat brain development after birth.

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K18368
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Nerve anatomy/Neuropathology
• Research Institution: Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University
• Principal Investigator: TOCHIGI Yuki 日本獣医生命科学大学, 獣医学部, 講師 (40571576)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 髄鞘形成不全 / オリゴデンドロサイト / Wwox / LDEラット

Outline of Final Research Achievements

WW domain containing oxidoreductase (Wwox) gene known as tumor suppressor expresses in the CNS and has been suggested that lack of Wwox affects the occurrence of some brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. However physiological role of Wwox in the CNS development is still largely unknown. To address the cellular role of Wwox in the brain development, LDE rats harbouring loss-of function mutation in Wwox gene and showing neurological disorders including sound-induced epileptic seizures were analyzed in this study. Remarkable reduction of myelination accompanied with decreasing cell number of mature oliigodendrocytes was shown during postnatal growing phase in the LDE rat brain. In contrast, oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) were increased in LDE rat brain. Additionally, Wwox protein partially localized with OPCs. These new findings suggest that Wwox is one of key molecule in the faithful differentiation and proliferation from OPCs to mature oligodendrocytes.

Free Research Field

神経病理学