Membrane rafts impairments in neurological disorders showing dementia

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25461295
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Neurology
• Research Institution: Fujita Health University
• Principal Investigator: MUTOH Tatsuro 藤田保健衛生大学, 医学部, 教授 (60190857)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: アルツハイマー病 / 認知症 / 糖脂質 / 神経細胞死 / 細胞膜ラフト / 細胞内情報伝達 / 中性糖脂質 / ガングリオシド

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Previous studies have shown that patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) exhibit abonormal brain glycolipids compositions and　quantities.　　In　this　study,　we forcused on the integrity and function of the membrane rafts of neuronal cells expressing mutated presenilin-1. We also performed lipid analyses of human brains of AD patients and found decreased amount of neutral glycolipids and gangliosides in the patients compared with those of control subjects. Furthermore, we reconstituted glycolipids abnormality found in patients' brain by use of the specific inhibitors for synthesizing or catabolizing enzymes and/or exogenous addition of glycolipids in culture medium of PC12 cells. During the course of the study, we found novel antibodies against neutral glycolipids. By use of these new autoantibodies against neutral lipids, we examined the specific roles of neutral glycolipids on the function of the rafts in neuronal cells.

Free Research Field

神経内科学