The University of Osaka · Medicine
Professor Goichi Beck's research lab focuses on the molecular and pathological mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disorders, particularly Parkinson’s disease and neuroaxonal dystrophies. The lab investigates key players such as iPLA2β, TDP-43, and ΔFosB in neuronal degeneration, iron homeostasis, and dyskinesia pathogenesis. Using transgenic and knockout animal models, as well as human cell lines, the lab explores therapeutic targets related to phospholipid metabolism, cyclic nucleotide signaling, and early biomarkers in the gastrointestinal tract. Their work bridges basic neurobiology with translational applications for Parkinson’s disease and related disorders.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
Infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy (INAD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by the widespread presence of axonal swellings (spheroids) in the CNS and PNS and is caused by gene abnormality in PLA2G6 [calcium-independent phospholipase A(2)β (iPLA(2)β)], which is essential for remodeling of membrane phospholipids. To clarify the pathomechanism of INAD, we pathologically analyzed the spinal cords and sciatic nerves of iPLA(2)β knock-out (KO) mice, a model of INAD. At 15 weeks (preclini
Long-term dopamine (DA) replacement therapy in Parkinson's disease (PD) leads to the development of abnormal involuntary movements known as l-Dopa-induced dyskinesia (LID). The transcription factor ΔFosB that is highly up-regulated in the striatum following chronic l-Dopa exposure may participate in the mechanisms of altered neuronal responses to DA generating LID. To identify intrinsic effects of elevated ΔFosB on l-Dopa responses, we induced transgenic ΔFosB overexpression in the striatum of p
Accumulation of abnormal transactivation response DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43) independently induces dopaminergic neuronal loss in the substantia nigra without Lewy pathology, and results in typical Parkinson's disease-like motor symptoms.
Results show that regulation of striatal cyclic nucleotides by phosphodiesterase 10A inhibition could be a useful therapeutic approach for l-dopa-induced dyskinesia, and therefore data support further studies of selective phosphodiesterase 10A inhibitors for PD therapy. © 2018 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Mutations in PLA2G6 have been proposed to be the cause of neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation type 2. The present study aimed to clarify the mechanism underlying brain iron accumulation during the deficiency of calcium-independent phospholipase A2 beta (iPLA2β), which is encoded by the PLA2G6 gene. Perl's staining with diaminobenzidine enhancement was used to visualize brain iron accumulation. Western blotting was used to investigate the expression of molecules involved in iron homeos
Our results suggest that the detection of p<i>α</i>Syn, but not <i>α</i>Syn, especially in the muscularis propria of GI tracts, could be a sensitive prodromal biomarker for PD.
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 8 (SCA8) is a neurodegenerative condition that presents with several neurological symptoms, such as cerebellar ataxia, parkinsonism, and cognitive impairment. It is caused by a CTA/CTG repeat expansion on chromosome 13q21 (ataxin 8 opposite strand [ATXN8OS]). However, the pathological significance of this expansion remains unclear. Moreover, abnormal CTA/CTG repeat expansions in ATXN8OS have also been reported in other neurodegenerative diseases, including progressive
Calcium-independent phospholipase A2β (iPLA2β, PLA2G6) is essential for the remodeling of membrane glycerophospholipids. Mutations in this gene are responsible for autosomal recessive, young onset, L-dopa-responsive parkinsonism (PARK14), suggesting a neurodegenerative condition in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system in patients with PLA2G6 mutations. We previously observed slowly progressive motor deficits in iPLA2β-knockout (KO) mice. To clarify whether a deficiency of iPLA2β leads to the de
We herein report the case of a 72-year-old man demonstrating myasthenia gravis (MG) with a dropped head and acute respiratory insufficiency. There was no ocular, bulbar, or limb involvement. The patient was seronegative for anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies and anti-muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) antibodies. Subsequent tests showed seropositivity for anti-low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 (LRP4) antibodies. The addition of steroid pulse therapy resulted in a
We report an autopsy case of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP-Richardson syndrome). The individual had been enrolled in a phase 2 trial and received a monoclonal tau antibody (tilavonemab, ABBV-8E12); he died of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and gastrointestinal bleeding during the clinical trial. Neuropathological examination demonstrated neuronal loss, gliosis, and widespread deposits of phosphorylated tau in the neurofibrillary tangles, tufted astrocytes, coiled bodies, and threads, whic
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) is an immune-mediated disease that mainly affects the peripheral nerves and nerve roots and typically presents with distal dominant motor and sensory disturbances as clinical symptoms. Central nervous system (CNS) demyelination with inflammation occurs infrequently in patients with CIDP. Here, we present a unique autopsy report of CIDP causing severe demyelination along the entire spinal cord. A Japanese woman exhibited progressive
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