Study on pathomechanisms of canine degenerative myelopathy and preclinical trial for antibody therapy

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24380169
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Clinical veterinary science
• Research Institution: Gifu University
• Principal Investigator: KAMISHINA Hiroaki 岐阜大学, 応用生物科学部, 准教授 (50506847)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): MAEDA Sadatoshi 岐阜大学, 応用生物科学部, 教授 (50377694) ; URUSHITANI Makoto 京都大学, 医学部, 准教授 (60332326) ; KATO Shinsuke 鳥取大学, 医学部, 准教授 (60194817)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 神経変性疾患 / 変性性脊髄症 / 犬 / 抗体療法 / ミクログリア

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research was conducted to elucidate pathomechanisms of canine degenerative myelopathy and develop a novel antibody therapy for this disease. Immunohistochemistry of spinal cord of affected dogs revealed accumulation of activated microglia in the early phase of the degenerating region. Microglia seemed to produce cytotoxic mediators; therefore inhibition of activated microglia was thought to be a promising therapeutic strategy. In this research, we generated canine mutant SOD1-specific antibodies. We are currently working to develop a novel antibody-based therapy for DM using our canine mutant SOD1-specific antibodies.

Free Research Field

獣医臨床神経病学