Oligodendrocyte-targeted approaches to reduce brain adverse effects of radiation therapy

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K08044
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 52040:Radiological sciences-related
• Research Institution: Gunma University
• Principal Investigator: Yoshida Yukari 群馬大学, 重粒子線医学推進機構, 助教 (90431717)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 脳 / オリゴデンドロサイト / 放射線

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Although studies on radiation necrosis of the brain have been conducted for many years, the pathogenesis of the disease has not yet been fully elucidated, and there is no established diagnosis or treatment. In this study, we focused on oligodendrocytes (OLs), which are thought to be the main cells involved in white matter lesions, and aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism of radiation-induced demyelination and remyelination.
Demyelinated mouse models were created by X-irradiation, and frozen sections of the sampled brains were prepared and analyzed using each specific marker such as OLs, astrocytes, and microglia. The results showed that the expression of OL was decreased in the white matter areas of the brains of irradiated mice compared to that of normal mice, and the expression of activated astrocytes and activated microglia was increased in the brains of irradiated mice compared to that of normal mice.

Free Research Field

放射線生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

我が国は他に例を見ない超高齢化社会を迎えており、がん疾患において、今後ますます手術非適応が増え、放射線治療の適応が増えて行くと思われる。IMRTや定位放射線治療、粒子線治療などの高線量放射線治療により、悪性腫瘍の生命予後は確実に改善しているが、高線量放射線治療の宿命として脳放射線壊死は避けて通れない大きな問題となっており、早急な治療戦略の改善が求められている。
放射線生物学分野において脳の放射線影響についての知見は非常に少ない。本研究成果は、脳腫瘍に対する放射線治療戦略を考える上でも、健康長寿社会実現のためにも、その成果の意義は大きい。