2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Circuit-specific neuron-astrocyte cross-talk in the striatum
| Project/Area Number |
17H02216
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Basic / Social brain science
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| Research Institution | Tokyo Medical and Dental University |
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Principal Investigator |
Tanaka Kohichi 東京医科歯科大学, 難治疾患研究所, 教授 (80171750)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
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| Keywords | アストロサイト / 線条体 / 直接路 / 間接路 / ゲノム編集 |
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
Astrocytes were thought as passive support cells, bringing nutrients to and removing wastes form the neurons. Recent studies challenged this view and demonstrated that astrocyte plays a critical role in information processing in the brain. However, it is unclear how astrocyte is involved in higher brain functions. In this study, we focused on the basal ganglia and identified specific marker genes of striatal astrocytes that are associated with direct and indirect pathways. The combination of these marker genes and genome editing techniques will accelerate the elucidation of circuit-specific functions of astrocytes.
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| Free Research Field |
神経科学
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| Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
本研究により、アストロサイトの各サブタイプが特定の神経回路において果たす役割の解明が促進され、アストロサイトの機能制御による脳機能制御という新しい研究分野を開拓できる。さらに、本研究は、アストロサイトの異常が示唆されているハンチントン病・アルツハイマー病・パーキンソン病・筋萎縮性側索硬化症などの神経変性疾患やうつ病・自閉症・統合失調症などの精神疾患の病態解明及び新規治療薬の開発に貢献すると期待される。
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