Investigation of the spinal nerve regeneration using PAC

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K09595
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56020:Orthopedics-related
• Research Institution: Hamamatsu University School of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Matsuyama Yukihiro 浜松医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (20312316)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: PAC / nerve regeneration / central nervous system

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Photoactivated Adenylyl Cyclase (PAC) genetic vector was difficult to introduce in the spinal cord. Then, nerve regeneration ability of PAC vector was evaluated using optic nerves as a central nervous system. When a PAC -containing vector was introduced, the axon regeneration was confirmed from the damage site of nerve compared to the control vector. It was also confirmed that the function of the regenerative axis was restricted in a PAC -containing vector in which blue light irradiation was not performed. When comparing the PAC -containing vector and the damage model using the control vector, PAC -containing vector increased axon regeneration and number of axons significantly than the control vector.

Free Research Field

脊椎脊髄外科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

中枢神経の再生において細胞内のcAMPが主要な役割を担っているという報告がある。今回、光活性化アデニル酸シクラーゼ(Photoactivated Adenylyl Cyclase: PAC)という光刺激により生体でのcAMPの産生をコントロールできる新技術を用いて中枢神経再生効果を組織レベルで評価した。マウスの中枢神経である視神経においてPAC導入により有意に神経再生効果がみられたことは学術的に新規性がある。また中枢神経再生は臨床的にはもちろんのこと、実験レベルにおいても困難な現状があるため、その再生をin vivoにて確認できたことは社会的意義も大きいと考える。