Study of molecular mechanisms of retinal development by single cell RNA-seq analysis

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H02657
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 48010:Anatomy-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Furukawa Takahisa 大阪大学, 蛋白質研究所, 教授 (50260609)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 網膜 / 神経細胞 / グリア細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have studied molecular mechanisms underlying retinal development, including neuronal and glial cells, synapse formation, and retinal degeneration. In the current study, we identified candidate genes involved in retinal development and function by scRNA-seq analysis. We analyzed their possible functions in the mouse retina. We generated knockout and double-knockout mice and performed electrophysiological analysis and histological analysis. We carried out inducible Muller glial cell-specific Rax knockout mice. We found that ax suppresses inflammation in Muller glial cells and regulates retinal homeostasis. We reported these results as a research journal paper.

Free Research Field

神経発生学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究成果は、中枢神経系における発生と機能の分子メカニズムの理解の進歩に貢献するとともに、網膜変性症を含む失明にいたる網膜疾患の治療法開発の基盤となると期待される。