Elucidation of the mechanism underlying brain development by immunoglobulin and related molecules.

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K15916
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 46020:Anatomy and histopathology of nervous system-related
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: Morimoto Keiko 慶應義塾大学, 医学部(信濃町), 助教 (40815429)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 脳発生 / 免疫グロブリン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Our brain is composed not only of neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes that derive from neural stem cells, but also of microglia derived from hematopoietic stem cells. These cells interact with each other, resulting in the establishment of highly organized brain functions. Recently, it has been elucidated that not only brain resident cells but also peripheral cells such as B cells and T cells are involved in the development and function of our brains. In this study, we found that mRNA of the constant region of IgM was expressed in neurons and that maternal IgGs penetrated into the developing brain parenchyma. We also found their receptors were expressed in the brain, suggesting that they have some function in brain development and functions.

Free Research Field

脳発生

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

正常な妊娠過程では感染や炎症を認めないにも関わらず発生期脳において母由来免疫グロブリン(Ig)が脳に存在する意義に関しては全く未知である。本研究により脳においてIgの受容体がミクログリアに発現することが明らかになったことは母由来Igがミクログリアを介して脳発生に何らかの影響を及ぼしている可能性を示唆している。また神経細胞自体がIgのmRNAを発現しているという新たな知見は、これらが脳発生において何らかの未知の機能を持つことを想起させる結果である。