Multidimensional analysis of microglial and synaptic contacts for understanding sensory modalities.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20KK0170
• Research Category: Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research (B))
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 46:Neuroscience and related fields
• Research Institution: National Institute for Physiological Sciences (2021-2023); Nagoya University (2020)
• Principal Investigator: WAKE Hiroaki 生理学研究所, 基盤神経科学研究領域, 教授 (90455220)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 大野 伸彦 自治医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (10432155) ; 加藤 大輔 生理学研究所, 基盤神経科学研究領域, 特別訪問研究員 (10712292) ; 竹田 育子 生理学研究所, 基盤神経科学研究領域, 特別訪問研究員 (30746300)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-10-27 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ミクログリア / 異種感覚の可塑性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The contribution of microglia to cross modal plasticity was clarified and its involvement in psychiatric disease pathology was examined.
First, the mechanism of sensory discrimination improvement by heterosensory plasticity in congenital blindness was clarified, and the involvement of microglia was demonstrated. We also focused on hallucinations caused by acquired vision loss or visual deprivation, and showed that this pathological mechanism is caused by a mechanism of astrocyte transformation through microglial activation. Using the 3q29 deletion model to demonstrate the pathological changes in these mechanisms, we linked these microglial changes to transcriptomic changes and revealed their altered physiological functions.

Free Research Field

神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

感覚喪失に伴う異種感覚の可塑性のメカニズムを明らかにすることで、他感覚脳領域を用いた感覚識別能力の向上に結びつけることが可能となり、さらにこれらによって得た知見を精神疾患に結びつけることで、感覚統合の異常を首座とする精神疾患の病態解明に結びつけることが可能となった。