Elucidation of glycinergic neuronal circuitry involved in REM sleep behavioral disorders

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K16117
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 48020:Physiology-related
• Research Institution: Keio University (2022-2023); University of Tsukuba (2020-2021)
• Principal Investigator: Hondo Mari 慶應義塾大学, 医学部(信濃町), 特別研究員(RPD) (70639195)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: レム睡眠行動障害 / レム睡眠 / グリシン受容体 / 神経変性疾患 / 運動異常

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Mammalian sleep is divided into non-REM and REM sleep, and muscle tone usually disappears during REM sleep. However, patients with REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) show abnormal behavior during REM sleep, suggesting that RBD is an early manifestation of neurodegenerative disease. In our conditioned glycine receptor-deficient mice exhibiting RBD symptoms, we found motor abnormalities similar to those seen in neurodegenerative diseases, but not related to neurodegeneration itself. These results suggest that glycine neuron-mediated neural circuits may play an important role in the expression of motor abnormalities in RBD and neurodegenerative diseases.

Free Research Field

神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

RBDは、神経変性疾患の初期症状であると考えられており、この初期症状を制御することで病気の進展を予防できるのではないかといった考えから、その全容解明が非常に期待されている。RBDの発現メカニズムが明らかになれば、RBDから進展する神経変性疾患のより効果的な治療・予防法を提案することが可能となり、現代社会が問題とする健康寿命延伸に対する社会的貢献度は極めて大きいといえる。