Analysis of generation and function in two germ layar stem cells in spinal cord regeneration

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K06658
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 44020:Developmental biology-related
• Research Institution: Kansai Medical University
• Principal Investigator: HAYASHI Shinichi 関西医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (80599572)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 脊髄再生 / 有尾両生類 / 神経新生 / 再生遺伝子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To investigate alternative expression genes in newt spinal cord regeneration, we performed transcriptome analysis. As a result, many genes were upregulated while a few genes were downregulated indicating that entire gene expression is activated during spinal cord regeneration.
High expression genes higher than 5-fold compared with intact spinal cord, were 30 genes and we refer them as Spinal Cord Regeneration Genes (SCRGs). Out of SCRGs, approximately one-third genes were shared genes with mammals, approximately one-third of SCRGs were conserved genes between fishes and amphibians, and one-third of SCRGs were unknown genes. Conserved genes with the unknown genes were not found among vertebrates suggesting that they are newt-specific genes and relate to stem cell regulation in spinal cord regeneration.

Free Research Field

有尾両生類における脊髄再生研究

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

現在、日本では10-20万人の人が脊髄損傷によって苦しめられており、毎年4000-5000人の患者が増え続けていると見積もられているが、最新の医療においても未だ有効な解決策が見出されていない。有尾両生類であるイモリは脊髄を含め、各種の器官、臓器の完全再生能力を有している。そのため、イモリの完全再生能力を解明することで、我々、ヒトの脊髄を再生させるために不足している要素、あるいは妨げている要因を見出すことができると考えられる。本研究により発見した脊髄再生時におけるこう発現遺伝子にはイモリ固有とみられる遺伝子が見つかった。イモリの再生原理の一端を担い、ヒトの脊髄再生に繋がることが期待される。