Zelulaz kanpoko matrizeko hevin proteinaren ikerketa giza garunean

Abstract

Azkeneko urteotan egindako ikerketa anitzek konexio neuronaletan laugarren egitura batek eragin zuzenak dituela frogatu dute: zelulaz kanpoko matrizea (ZKMa) hain zuzen ere. ZKMko proteina gehienak garunaren garapena ematen den bitartean espresatzen dira, eta garun helduan haien adierazpenaren murrizpena jasaten dute. Hala ere, hevin proteina maila altuetan espresatzen jarraitzen da garun helduan, non plastikotasun neuronalean parte hartzen duen. Horretaz gain, hevinen adierazpenaren aldaketak neurogarapeneko gaixotasunekin eta gaitz neuropsikiatrikoekin erlazionatu dira. Beraz, ikerketa proiektu honen helburua giza garun postmortem-ean hevin ikertzea da, Western Blot eta FISH teknikak erabiliz. Ikerlan honek, hevin patologiarik gabeko subjektu helduen garunetan espresatzen dela ezagutarazi du.

Recent studies have described a fourth structure in neuronal connections, which produces direct effects on them: the extracellular matrix (ECM). Most of ECM proteins are expressed during brain development, and their expression is reduced in adult brain. However, hevin protein remains highly expressed in adult brain, where it contributes to neuronal plasticity. Besides that, alterations in hevin’s expression are related to neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Therefore, the objective of this research project is to study hevin’s expression in postmortem human brain, by Western Blot and FISH techniques. The present work reveals the presence of hevin in the brain of non-pathologic adult subjects.