Elucidating the Impact of Reduced Expression of Heat Shock Proteins in the Nervous System on Schizophrenia

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K17082
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 52030:Psychiatry-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: ZHAO ZHILEI 東京大学, 医学部附属病院, 特任研究員 (50761277)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 統合失調症 / 熱ショックタンパク質 / 脳・神経 / 遺伝子発現

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Schizophrenia has a high heritability rate, but the precise etiology remains unclear. This study focused on the signaling pathways of HSP70, identified as a risk-associated factor for schizophrenia, aiming to gain insights into the disease. As a result of the research, comprehensive gene expression analysis was conducted on HSP70 knockdown cell lines, revealing the characteristics of gene expression changes induced by HSP70 downregulation.

Free Research Field

精神神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、神経細胞におけるHSP70の情報伝達経路の解明に取り込んだ。次世代シーケンサーによる遺伝子発現解析を行うことで、神経細胞内におけるHSP70のシグナル応答についてより深い知見を得ることができた。今後、得られたデータを活用して、疾患の病態解明につながることを期待したい。