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Nov. 2018, 5

Elucidation of the mechanism of autism that makes it difficult to gain weight, and expectations for the development of treatments for obesity

　A research group led by Professor Keiichi Nakayama of Kyushu University, Assistant Professor Yasuyuki Kita and Professor Michiko Shirane of Nagoya City University, and Professor Masaaki Nishiyama of Kanazawa University found that CHD8, the causative protein of autism, causes fat differentiation and fat in adipocytes. We have discovered that it has a very important role in the accumulation of drops.It is expected to lead to a new treatment for obesity.

　CHD8 is the gene with the highest mutation rate in autistic patients. In autism with a mutation in the CHD8 gene, in addition to the symptoms peculiar to autism such as impaired social interaction (communication) and strong commitment to follow fixed procedures (persistence tendency), lean people It has been reported that there are many.This suggests that the CHD8 protein has important functions not only for neurogenesis but also for metabolic function and fat differentiation, but the specific mechanism remains a mystery.

　This time, the research group created a new mouse lacking the CHD8 gene of adipose stem cells (which are located in adipose tissue and have the ability to differentiate into various tissues).As a result, they found that lipid differentiation and lipid droplet accumulation that promote obesity were suppressed.In addition, when the function of CHD8 in adipocytes was investigated by a new technique called "transomics analysis", CHD8 cooperates with C / EBPβ, a protein important for adipocyte differentiation, and is involved in adipocyte differentiation and lipid droplet accumulation. It was found to regulate the expression of related genes.Furthermore, it was found that artificial deletion of the CHD8 gene in mice makes it difficult to gain weight even when eating a high-fat diet.

　These results indicate that obesity can be treated by suppressing CHD8 only in adipose tissue, and the development of a new treatment for obesity is expected.

Paper information:[Cell Reports] The Autism-Related Protein CHD8 Cooperates with C / EBPβ to Regulate Adipogenesis

Kyushu University

A university that creates "comprehensive knowledge" that opens up the future and drives social change

Kyushu University, which celebrated its 111th anniversary this year, is a core university with 12 faculties and 19 faculties.We have been designated as a "designated national university corporation" that can be an international base by developing the world's highest level of outstanding education and research activities.From the humanities and sociology that we have cultivated so far to the natural sciences, and even the design-related "knowledge" […]

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Kanazawa University

Flexible and flexible learning of specialized knowledge in a wide range of fields.Fostering human resources who will lead the global society

Kanazawa University, which boasts a history and tradition of more than 150 years, has a basic philosophy of "a research university that emphasizes education that is open to the region and the world," and is rich in humanity with specialized knowledge, problem-seeking ability, international sense, and ethical standards. By fostering talented human resources, we aim to become a "Kanazawa University that lives globally" and a "knowledge base in East Asia" [...]

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Nagoya City University

Fostering excellent human resources who will lead the next generation, energetically challenging international and interdisciplinary research

Opened as a public university consisting of medical and pharmaceutical schools, it is now an urban university consisting of 7 faculties and 7 graduate schools. In 2016, the Graduate School of Economics "Medical Economics Management Course", the Graduate School of Medicine "Clinical Medical Design", and the Graduate School of Human Culture "Clinical Psychology Course" were established, opening up new academic fields. …]

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