Single-cell analysis of neurons involved in social behavior and the development of technology for manipulating its activity

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K21464
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 46:Neuroscience and related fields
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Agriculture
• Principal Investigator: Nakazawa Takanobu 東京農業大学, 生命科学部, 教授 (00447335)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-07-30 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 自閉スペクトラム症 / 社会行動 / 疾患モデルマウス / 単一細胞解析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The molecular mechanisms of the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorders are largely unknown. To date, the certain molecular etiology has not been identified that can explain a large number of patients with autism spectrum disorders. The aim of this study was to analyze the neuronal functions involved in the control of social behavior and to identify the neural circuits that regulate social behavior. During the study period, the following results were identified. (1) We found that oxytocin restores abnormal social behavior in POGZ mutant mice, a mouse model of autism spectrum disorder. 2) We found that POGZ binds to the promoter of the oxytocin receptor gene and regulates its expression. (3) We found that the activity of anterior cingulate cortex neurons activated by social activities is important for the regulation of social behavior in mice.

Free Research Field

分子神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

自閉スペクトラム症は社会的関係等に障害が認められる頻度が高い神経発達障害の1つであり、その解決が求められているが、病態の分子メカニズムはほとんど不明であり、多数の患者を説明できる明確な分子病因は同定されていない。本研究により、自閉スペクトラム症の中核症状である社会的関係の障害の分子病態の一端を単一細胞レベルで明らかにすることができた。本研究の成果は、自閉スペクトラム症の治療を可能にする戦略の構築に資するものであり、社会的急務の中枢疾患の解決を加速する点で学術的・社会的意義が大きいものである。