connexin cytopathy in the pathogenesis of demyelinating disorders

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25293204
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Neurology
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Kira Jun-ichi 九州大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (40183305)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): Matsushita Takuya 九州大学, 大学院医学研究院, 講師 (00533001) ; Yamasaki Ryo 九州大学病院, 講師 (10467946) ; Masaki Katsuhisa 九州大学, 大学院医学研究院, 助教 (90612903)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 多発性硬化症 / 視神経脊髄炎 / Balo病 / コネキシン / アストロサイト

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We found the extensive loss of connexins in active lesions of demyelinating disorders including multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica and Balo's disease.Also we performed combined neuropathological and neuroradiological studies in spinal cord lesions from NMO patients. We showed all of isolated perivascular lesions, early lesion of NMO, were located in lateral and posterior columns in spinal cord. In addition, we examined whether T lymphocyte could influence cultured astrocytic Cx43 by using in vitro assay. We revealed that Th1-derived factor could downregulate the expression of astrocytic Cx43.

Free Research Field

脱髄性疾患