Elucidation of the neural basis controlling anxiety through multi-scale analysis

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H03391
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 47040:Pharmacology-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Kasai Atsushi 大阪大学, 大学院薬学研究科, 准教授 (40454649)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 不安 / イメージング / シングル細胞解析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In recent years, the number of patients with anxiety disorders has increased, imposing a significant social burden. Despite this, the causes, pathological mechanisms, and treatment mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we combined the latest high-resolution whole-brain imaging technique and single-cell transcriptome analysis methods to analyze the brain exposed to severe mental stress at the single cell level, revealing new neural bases that control stress-induced anxiety-related behaviors. Specifically, we clarified the neural circuit structure and cellular characteristics of stress-responsive neurons in the claustrum. These results suggest that the molecular characteristics in the claustrum could lead to the identification of new therapeutic targets for anxiety-related disorders.

Free Research Field

神経薬理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

不安症やうつ病の新規治療薬の第一選択薬は、選択的セロトニン再取り込み阻害薬であり、過去数十年間新薬は出ていない。しかし、うつ病患者の約3割は、既存の抗うつ薬では治療効果が得られない難治性であるとされている。そのため、新たな機序の抗うつ薬・不安症等の治療薬開発が求められている。本研究によって同定されたストレス応答性の細胞集団は、これらストレス性精神疾患の新たな標的になることが期待される。