Role of functional change of microglia in neuropathogenesis of prion diseases

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23248050
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Applied veterinary science
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: HORIUCHI Motohiro 北海道大学, (連合)獣医学研究科, 教授 (30219216)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): INANAMI Osamu 北海道大学, 大学院獣医学研究科, 教授 (10193559) ; HASEBE Rie 北海道大学, 大学院獣医学研究科, 講師 (70431335) ; SASSA Yukiko 北海道大学, 大学院獣医学研究科, 博士研究員 (20582464)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): OHSIMA Masanobu 金沢大学, がん研究所, 教授 (40324610)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: プリオン病 / ミクログリア / 自然免疫 / アストロサイト / 抗炎症性サイトカイン / 磁気細胞分離法 / IL10 / CD14

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We established PrPSc-specific staining method and using this method we elucidated a part of neuropathophysiology in the early stage of prion infection; astrocytes recognize prion propagation directly or subtle changes in neurons by prion propagation and astrocyte activation precedes over microglial activation.
Gene expression analysis of microglia in prion-infected mice showed that microglia play a neuroprotective role by secreting neurotrophic factors at the early stage of prion infection in the early stage of prion infection, but the microglial activation state shifts to pro-inflammatory or neurotoxic state along with the progression of prion disease. Furthermore, anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10 interfere the propagation of prions in brain.

Free Research Field

獣医衛生学