Investigation of the epigenetics at schizophrenia pathology

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25860108
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Medical pharmacy
• Research Institution: University of Toyama
• Principal Investigator: UNO Kyosuke 富山大学, 大学院医学薬学研究部(薬学), 助教 (30608774)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 統合失調症 / エピジェネティクス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have identified Shati and the regulation system of Shati is expected as therapeutic or diagnostic tools. In this study, we focused DNA methylation. To analyze the DNA methylation, mice were treated with METH or saline. Mice genomic DNA was extracted from NAc tissue and peripheral blood followed by bisulfite treatment. In METH treated mice, the methylation level of Shati promoter specific region prepared from NAc was lower than that of saline treated mice. Moreover, same domain from peripheral blood in METH treated mice was less methylated compared with saline treated mice. Furthermore, the methylation level of the specific region of SHATI obtained from peripheral blood of schizophrenia subjects were significantly lower than that of healthy subjects.
These results indicate that expression of Shati might be regulated by DNA methylation, and to analyze the blood level of methylation at Shati specific genomic region could help a diagnosis of psychiatric disorders in clinical field.

Free Research Field

神経精神薬理学