Diabetic Neuropathy Project
Pathogenesis-based Therapeutic Approaches to Diabetes-related Neurodegeneration
Research Summary
One of the most common complications of Diabetes Mellitus, and its symptoms such as pain and numbness can be the cause of insomnia and depression. When allowed to progress to more advanced disease stages, peripheral neuropathy can result in serious consequences such as lower limb amputation and lethal arrhythmia. In addition, recent studies have indicated that diabetes is a major risk factor for cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.
The goals of our project are as follows:
- Establishing effective pathogenesis-based treatments for diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
- Elucidating mechanistic links between metabolic dysfunction and neurodegenerative diseases.
Project1:
Therapeutic Approaches to Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
Using diabetic model animals and culture systems of adult rodent dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and immortalized Schwann cells, we seek to establish effective pathogenesis-based treatments for peripheral neuropathy.
Project2:
Mechanistic link between Metabolic dysfunction and Neurodegenerative Diseases
By using a Drosophila model, we aim to understand the molecular mechanism by which metabolic conditions influence misfolding protein-induced neurodegeneration.
Selected Publications
- Nagai Y, et al. (2022) Rho-associated, coiled-coil-containing protein kinase 1 regulates development of diabetic kidney disease via modulation of fatty acid metabolism. Kidney Int. 102:536-545.
- Yako H, et al. (2021) "Role of pyruvate in maintaining cell viability and energy production under high-glucose conditions." Sci. Rep. 11:18910.
- Takaku S, et al. (2021) Exendin-4 promotes Schwann cell survival/migration and myelination in vitro. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 22:2971.
- Mizukami H, et al. (2020) Role of glucosamine in development of diabetic neuropathy independent of aldose reductase pathway. Brain Commun. 2:fcaa168.
- Akamine T, et al. (2020) “Glycolaldehyde induces sensory neuron death through activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p-38 MAP kinase pathways.” Histochem. Cell Biol. 153:111-119.
- Lee JS, et al. (2019) “Arylsulfatase A, a genetic modifier of Parkinson's disease, is an α-synuclein chaperone. ” Brain 142:2845-2859.
- *Nakamura S, *Oba M, et al. (2019) “Suppression of autophagic activity by Rubicon is a signature of aging.” Nat. Commun. 10:847. (*co-first authors)
- Takaku S, et al. (2018) “Establishment of a myelinating co-culture system with a motor neuron-like cell line NSC-34 and an adult rat Schwann cell line IFRS1.” Histochem. Cell Biol. 149:537-543.