University of Illinois Chicago のFei Song博士によるセミナーを開催します。 Song博士は、九州大学生体防御医学研究所にゆかりのある研究者であり、免疫学を基盤に、神経免疫学、神経炎症および神経変性疾患の研究に取り組まれています。特に、神経細胞と自然免疫細胞の相互作用や、ミクログリアが神経炎症・神経変性に果たす役割に注目し、筋萎縮性側索硬化症（ALS）、多発性硬化症（MS）、アルツハイマー病（AD）などの病態解明と新たな治療法の開発を目指しておられます。

神経科学と免疫学をつなぐ最新の研究についてお話しいただく貴重な機会ですので、皆様ぜひご参加ください。

第862回　生医研セミナー/ The 862th MIB Seminar

日時: 2026年10月26日（月）16：00～17：00/ October. 26 (Mon), 2026
 

場所：病院馬出キャンパス　総合研究棟1階セミナー室101 / Seminar Room 101, 1F, Biomedical Research Station, Hospital Campus
 

演者：Dr. Fei Song
 

所属：Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), USA
 

タイトル:：Therapeutic Targeting of Neuroinflammation in Neurodegenerative Diseases

要旨：Dr. Song and her team have developed patented therapeutic strategies targeting glial growth factor signaling, Neuregulin (NRG1) signaling, which is selectively associated with disease-associated microglia and contributes to neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Her research program integrates studies of human ALS autopsy tissues, patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived microglia, and complementary animal models to elucidate disease mechanisms and translate human findings into novel therapeutic strategies. A central focus of her research is the encompassing the interconnected processes of neuron–microglia communication, neuroinflammation, disease progression, and therapeutic targeting. This distinctive research program combines mechanistic investigations of neuron–glia interactions with therapeutic development, providing a translational framework for identifying and validating disease-modifying targets. Through multidisciplinary collaborations among basic scientists, physician-scientists, and clinical investigators, Dr. Song’s team addresses both hypothesis-driven and data-driven research questions. These collaborative efforts bridge fundamental discoveries with human disease biology, with the goal of translating mechanistic insights into innovative therapeutic approaches for neurodegenerative diseases.
 

参考文献：

1. Liu J, Ong K. Meng A, Stokin G, Loeb J; Ravits J, *Song F. Lateral sclerosis in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is an upper motor neuron distal axonopathy (“dying back”): a clinical-neuropathological study. Acta Neuropathologica. 2026 Oct 9;152(1):48. PMID: 42853426..

2. Cropper HC, Mir F, Liu J, Vidushi R. Srivastava, Ramizuddin M, Jiang QL, Soni M, Valyi-Nagy T, Mnatsakanova D, Abrams C, Song F, Loeb JA. Axonal dying back of upper motor neurons in human ALS. Sci Rep. 2026 May 15. PMID: 42141072.

3. Liu J, Geraghty JR, Schram S, Cropper HC, Lei J, Loeb JA, *Song F. Prevention of Alzheimer pathology by blocking neuregulin signaling on microglia. eNeuro. 2023 Oct 30:ENEURO.0422-23.2023. PMID: 37903620.

4. Schram S, Loeb JA, *Song F. Disease propagation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): an interplay between genetics and environment. J Neuroinflammation. 2020 Jun 6;17(1):175. PMID: 32505190.

5. Dachet F, Liu J, Ravits J, *Song F. Predicting disease specific spinal motor neurons and glia in sporadic ALS. Neurobiol Dis. 2019. PMID: 31276795.

6. Liu J, Allender E, Wang J, Simpson EH, Loeb JA, *Song F. Slowing disease progression in the SOD1 mouse model of ALS by blocking neuregulin-induced microglial activation. Neurobiol Dis. 2018 Mar;111:118-126. PMID: 29278738.

7. Allender E, Deol H, Schram S, Maheras KJ, Gow A, Simpson EH, *Song F. Neuregulin1 modulation of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). J Neuroimmunol. 2018 May 15;318:56-64. PMID: 29534847.

8. *Song F, Chiang P, Ravits J, Loeb JA. Activation of microglial neuregulin1 signaling in the corticospinal tracts of ALS patients with upper motor neuron signs. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener. 2014 Mar;15(1-2):77-83. PMID: 24229388.

9. *Song F, Chiang P, Wang J, Ravits J, Loeb JA. Aberrant neuregulin 1 signaling in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2012 Feb;71(2):104-15. PMID: 22249457.

10. *Song F, Guan Z, Gienapp IE, Shawler T, Benson J, Whitacre CC. The thymus plays a role in oral tolerance in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. J Immunol. 2006 Aug 1;177(3):1500-9. PMID: 16849456.