2006 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Study of cholesterol roles on neuronal maintenance
| Project/Area Number |
17590859
|
|---|
| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
|
| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
|---|
| Section | 一般 |
|---|
| Research Field |
Neurology
|
|---|
| Research Institution | Gunma University |
|---|
Principal Investigator |
YAMAZAKI Tsuneo Gunma University, Medicine, Lecturer, 医学部, 講師 (80200658)
|
|---|
| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
OKAMOTO Koichi Gunma University, Medicine, Professor, 大学院医学系研究科, 教授 (00124652)
IWASHITA Yoshiko Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Biomembraine Research Group, Chief Scientist, 生体膜機能研究グループ, 副参事研究員 (50111498)
|
|---|
| Project Period (FY) |
2005 – 2006
|
| Keywords | Cholesterol / Neuron / Niemann-Pick disease |
|---|
| Research Abstract |
There is growing evidence showing the important role of cholesterol in maintaining neuronal function. In particular, much attention has been paid to the role of the cholesterol-rich microdomains called lipid rafts. However, the cholesterol distribution on neurons is not clear. Here, we investigated localization of cholesterol in cultured rat hippocampal neurons, using filipin and a novel cholesterol-binding reagent BCθ. In our culture system, BCθdetects only cell-surface cholesterol, whereas filipin stains both intracellular and cell-surface cholesterol. BCθ staining appeared visible in a maturation dependent manner and showed axon dominant distribution of cell surface cholesterol in fully matured neurons. A part of this cholesterol on axons was detergent resistant at 4℃, and thus might be involved in lipid rafts. Interestingly, Niemann-Pick type C model neurons induced by class 2 amphiphiles lost the cell surface but not the intracellular cholesterol staining. Niemann-Pick type C disease is caused by the disruption of intracellular cholesterol transport and is known to induce neurodegeneration in brains accompanied by formation of neurofibrillary tangles. Therefore, our observations suggest the important role of cell surface cholesterol in maintaining a functional axonal membrane and indicate that the observed defect in axonal surface cholesterol might lead to neurodegeneration.
|
Research Products
(11 results)
