Identification of glycoproteins as markers of depression

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K10189
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Psychiatric science
• Research Institution: Yamaguchi University
• Principal Investigator: YAMAGATA Hirotaka 山口大学, 医学部附属病院, 講師 (10549934)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 松尾 幸治 埼玉医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (00292912) ; 内田 周作 山口大学, 医学部附属病院, 講師 (10403669)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: うつ病 / 糖鎖 / バイオマーカー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Glycosylation, the addition of a carbohydrate moiety to a protein during biosynthesis, is a common post-translational modification involved in several disease states. Specific protein-glycan structures have been reported to be useful as biomarkers for cancer and some neuropsychiatric disorders; however, the relationship between glycosylation of plasma proteins and major depressive disorder (MDD) has not been studied. This study aimed to determine whether the plasma protein-glycan structure would differ in MDD from typical values, using both a stress-based mouse model and samples from patients with MDD. The glycan structure profile of plasma proteins might represent candidate biomarkers for MDD.

Free Research Field

精神神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

うつ病患者の血漿タンパク質の糖鎖について調べ、うつ病患者で変化する糖鎖変化を見つけることが出来た。また、うつ病モデルマウスの血漿タンパク質でも、ストレス負荷を受けたマウスで変化している糖鎖変化を同定できた。今後、さらに詳しく血漿の糖鎖を調べることで、うつ病の診断につながるような検査方法が見つかる可能性がある。また、うつ病モデルマウスの脳内タンパク質の糖鎖を調べることで、うつ病の病態を引き起こす原因となるような糖鎖変化が見つかるかもしれない。