Research for investigating Alexander disease using astrocytes differentiated from iPS cells

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24659433
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Neurology
• Research Institution: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: NAKAGAWA Masanori 京都府立医科大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (50198040)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): YOSHIDA Tomokatsu 京都府立医科大学, 大学院医学研究科・神経内科, 講師 (90457987)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: アレキサンダー病 / GFAP / iPS細胞 / 末梢血リンパ球

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Alexander disease is a neurodegenerative disorder, in which the genetic mutation of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), which is specifically expressed in astrocytes, is observed. Initial purpose was to establish iPS cells derived from skin fibroblast obtained by patients with Alexander disease and to induce to differentiate astrocytes. However, with recent technology advancement, we established iPS cells derived from peripheral lymphocyte obtained by a non-Alexander disease patient as preliminary experiment. We intend to differentiate astrocytes using the iPS cells.
To evaluate appropriate method to detect GFAP aggregates, which may be crucial for investigation using cell model, we compared some kinds of immunostaining methods. As a result, conventional GFAP immunostaining was found to be most useful.

Free Research Field

臨床神経学