Physiological regulation of retinal cells mediating circaidna photoentrainment by clock genes in human and mouse

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K06876
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 45060:Applied anthropology-related
• Research Institution: Tokai University
• Principal Investigator: Takao Motoharu 東海大学, 情報理工学部, 教授 (90408013)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 小崎 智照 福岡女子大学, 国際文理学部, 准教授 (80380715)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 網膜 / マウス / ヒト / 網膜神経節細胞 / 網膜電図 / 光瞳孔反射 / 心理物理学 / 視神経

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The circadian lighting technology, which promotes healthy and comfortable living in consideration of human circadian rhythms, originated with the discovery of intrinsically photosensitive retinal cells involved in photoentrainment of circadian rhythms by Takao et al. This discovery had a major impact not only in the field of biology, but also in the field of lighting engineering. Studies by several groups including Takao et al. in humans and mice have shown that photosensitivity changes during the morning, day, and night in a day. In addition to the basic research in mice, this study is expected to contribute significantly to the development of lighting devices that truly contribute to the promotion of human health by elucidating in detail the time-dependent characteristics of photosensitivity of this cell in humans.

Free Research Field

神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

サーカディアンリズム障害による健康被害また労働力低下による経済的損失は計り知れない。一方、網膜内において全網膜神経節細胞のうち数パーセントしか存在しない内因性光感受性網膜神経節位細胞が自ら光電変換(phototransduction)を行い、これが脳におけるサーカディアンリズム中枢（視交叉上核）と視神経を通じてシナプスを形成することによりサーカディアンリズムの光同調に関わっていることがこの20年間でわかってきた。本研究はこの障害の治療に用いられる高輝度光療法において最適な光刺激条件を求める上で基礎的治験となることが期待される。