Function and mechanism of exosome in neuroinflammation

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26860274
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Experimental pathology
• Research Institution: Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital and Institute of Gerontology
• Principal Investigator: Kawakami Kyojiro 地方独立行政法人東京都健康長寿医療センター(東京都健康長寿医療センター研究所), 東京都健康長寿医療センター研究所, 研究員 (90589227)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: エクソソーム / ミクログリア / 神経炎症 / プロテオーム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Neuroinflammation is profoundly involved in neurodegenerative diseases. We aim to elucidate the role of exosomes secreted from activated microglia in neuroinflammation. We found that protein composition in exosomes secreted from BV-2 microglia cells was altered by LPS treatment, among which histone molecules showed a remarkable increase. Treatment with histone molecules damaged PC12 neuronal cells, but exosomes derived from LPS-treated BV-2 cells showed no apparent cytotoxic effect. Further investigation using differentiated PC12 cells or primary cultured neurons will be required to elucidate the role of histones expressed on exosomes in neuroinflammation.

Free Research Field

生化学、薬学