Nihei, Yoshihiro

写真a

Affiliation

School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine (Neurology) （Shinanomachi）

Position

Assistant Professor/Senior Assistant Professor
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Papers 【 Display / hide 】

  • Poly-glycine–alanine exacerbates C9orf72 repeat expansion-mediated DNA damage via sequestration of phosphorylated ATM and loss of nuclear hnRNPA3

    Nihei Y., Mori K., Werner G., Arzberger T., Zhou Q., Khosravi B., Japtok J., Hermann A., Sommacal A., Weber M., Kamp F., Nuscher B., Edbauer D., Haass C.

    Acta Neuropathologica （Acta Neuropathologica)  139 （ 1 ） 99 - 118 2020.01

    ISSN  00016322

    　View Summary

    Repeat expansion in C9orf72 causes amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Expanded sense and antisense repeat RNA transcripts in C9orf72 are translated into five dipeptide-repeat proteins (DPRs) in an AUG-independent manner. We previously identified the heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) A3 as an interactor of the sense repeat RNA that reduces its translation into DPRs. Furthermore, we found that hnRNPA3 is depleted from the nucleus and partially mislocalized to cytoplasmic poly-GA inclusions in C9orf72 patients, suggesting that poly-GA sequesters hnRNPA3 within the cytoplasm. We now demonstrate that hnRNPA3 also binds to the antisense repeat RNA. Both DPR production and deposition from sense and antisense RNA repeats are increased upon hnRNPA3 reduction. All DPRs induced DNA double strand breaks (DSB), which was further enhanced upon reduction of hnRNPA3. Poly-glycine–arginine and poly-proline-arginine increased foci formed by phosphorylated Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (pATM), a major sensor of DSBs, whereas poly-glycine–alanine (poly-GA) evoked a reduction of pATM foci. In dentate gyri of C9orf72 patients, lower nuclear hnRNPA3 levels were associated with increased DNA damage. Moreover, enhanced poly-GA deposition correlated with reduced pATM foci. Since cytoplasmic pATM deposits partially colocalized with poly-GA deposits, these results suggest that poly-GA, the most frequent DPR observed in C9orf72 patients, differentially causes DNA damage and that poly-GA selectively sequesters pATM in the cytoplasm inhibiting its recruitment to sites of DNA damage. Thus, mislocalization of nuclear hnRNPA3 caused by poly-GA leads to increased poly-GA production, which partially depletes pATM, and consequently enhances DSB.

  • The first report of a japanese case of seipinopathy with a BSCL2 N88S mutation

    Minami K., Takahashi S., Nihei Y., Oki K., Suzuki S., Ito D., Takashima H., Suzuki N.

    Internal Medicine （Internal Medicine)  57 （ 4 ） 613 - 615 2018

    ISSN  09182918

    　View Summary

    Seipinopathy is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease caused by mutations of the Berardinelli-Seip Congenital Lipodystrophy 2 (BSCL2) gene. We report the first Japanese case of seipinopathy with a heterozygous mutation of p.N88S in the BSCL2 gene. The patient showed bilateral hyperreflexia of the biceps, triceps, brachioradialis, and knee, as well as the pes cavus and distal dominant weakness and atrophy of both arms and legs, suggesting the involvement of both upper and lower motor neurons. Mutations of the BSCL2 gene have been known to cause motor neuron degeneration through endoplasmic reticulum stress. Seipinopathy should be considered in patients with symptoms mimicking amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

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Papers, etc., Registered in KOARA 【 Display / hide 】

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Research Projects of Competitive Funds, etc. 【 Display / hide 】

  • Examination of the inhibitory effect on cell-to-cell transmission of aberrant TDP-43 protein and neurodegeneration by TREM2 stimulation-mediated microglial activation

    2023.04
    -
    2026.03

    基盤研究(C), Principal investigator

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