Molecular mechanisms that function in oligodendrocyte myelination

2013 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24890291
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: General physiology
• Research Institution: National Institute for Physiological Sciences
• Principal Investigator: SHIMIZU Takeshi 生理学研究所, 分子生理研究系, 助教 (60398237)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-08-31 – 2014-03-31
• Keywords: オリゴデンドロサイト / ミエリン / グリア細胞

Research Abstract

Oligodendrocytes are glial cells that myelinate neuronal axons in the central nervous system. Myelin insulates axons to increase conduction velocity of neuronal action potentials. Recent studies have shown that mechanical factors influence various cell properties. Mechanical stimulation can be transduced to intracellular biochemical signals through conformational changes in focal adhesion-related mechanosensors. We analyzed oligodendrocyte morphology and myelination in relation with the mechanosensors. In addition, we found that non-canonical Wnt signaling was up-regulated in a demyelinating mouse model. We examined whether non-canonical Wnt signaling pathway had a role in the Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis-induced neural pathology.