Analysis of telencephalin-dependent neuronal clearance for apoptotic cells

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24500392
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Neuroscience in general
• Research Institution: Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: Yutaka Furutani 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, ライフサイエンス技術基盤研究センター, 研究員 (80392108)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 細胞接着分子 / 細胞外マトリックス / 細胞死 / ファゴサイトーシス / テレンセファリン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

I hypothesize that dead cells could be phagocytosed by neurons as a clearance mechanism in the brain. After induction of apoptosis, vitronectin bound to plasma membrane of cultured hippocampal neurons. Fragments of apoptotic cells interacted with neurons in a telencephalin-dependent manner and induced telencephalin accumulation. Vitronectin-coated magnetic beads used as an imitation of dead cells enhanced formation of phagocytic membrane protrusions on cultured hippocampal neurons and were collected with the membrane using a magnet apparatus. The beads-binding proteins were comprehensively analyzed by a mass spectroscopy. In this fraction, several proteins worked in phagocytosis were present. Thus, vitronectin bound to a surface of dead cells appears to be recognized by telencephalin and regulate a clearance of dead cells.

Free Research Field

神経生化学