Elucidating the molecular mechanism of generating a subpopulation of spinal dorsal horn astrocyte

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K14821
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 46010:Neuroscience-general-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Kohro Yuta 九州大学, 薬学研究院, 准教授 (30723861)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-11-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 脊髄 / アストロサイト / 亜集団 / 一次求心性神経

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Astrocytes, which are the most abundant cell type in the central nervous system, are considered to exhibit molecular and functional heterogeneity. However, the mechanisms underlying astrocyte heterogeneity from development to adulthood remain unknown. In this study, we focused on a population of astrocytes in the spinal dorsal horn (SDH), which were defined by the expression of Hes5 gene （Kohro et al., Nat Neurosci,2020）and found that the localization of Hes5+ astrocytes in the spinal cord was spatially altered during development. Furthermore, Hes5 expression in the adult SDH astrocytes was induced by the interaction with primary afferent neurons.

Free Research Field

神経薬理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年の遺伝学的解析技術あるいは生体における細胞のイメージング技術の発達に伴い、中枢神経系においてアストロサイトの多様性が示唆されているが、それら多様性を規定しているメカニズムは未だ理解が進んでない。本研究では、脊髄後角へと投射することが知られている一次求心性神経に着目し、同神経が脊髄アストロサイト亜集団形成に寄与することを示唆した点に学術的意義がある。本研究に端を発し、生理あるいは病態時におけるアストロサイト多様性の理解につながることが期待される。