new therapy for neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy by the crosstalk between inflammatory cells and glial cells

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K08211
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 52050:Embryonic medicine and pediatrics-related
• Research Institution: Nagoya City University
• Principal Investigator: Aoyama Mineyoshi 名古屋市立大学, 医薬学総合研究院(薬学), 教授 (70363918)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 垣田 博樹 愛知医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (40528949) ; 山田 恭聖 愛知医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (60405165)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 新生児低酸素性虚血性脳症 / 低体温療法 / 脳内炎症 / グリア / 微小環境

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The development of the perinatal medicine can make the survival rate of newborn better. However, there are still severe issues about neurological sequelae in newborn after the intensive therapy. Hypothermic therapy has the neuroprotective effect on neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). The therapeutic mechanism has not been clarified. In this study, we would show the mechanism of HIE and more effective therapy based on hypothermic therapy. In the cellular analysis, microglia and astrocyte had toxic activation under hypoxic ischemic conditions. However, hypothermic culture suppressed microglial toxic activation and astrocyte toxic activation. In the animal model analysis, hypothermic condition suppressed brain damage by the toxic activation of glial cells. These results may suggest a novel therapeutic approach to complement hypothermia therapy.

Free Research Field

小児科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の成果は、いまだ謎の多い脳保護治療である低体温療法の作用メカニズムの解明につながる成果であり、医療現場で効果が不十分な症例や他の合併症によって低体温療法を断念する症例に対する、新たな治療提案につながる。周産期医療の進歩の中で中枢神経の後遺症に苦しむ患児を救う提案である。子育て世代の誰もが直面するかもしれない出産におけるリスクの克服は少子化社会において社会的波及効果が期待できる。