Mechanism of peripheral nerve damage by Mycobacterium ulcerans in Buruli ulcer

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K08466
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Bacteriology (including mycology)
• Research Institution: Kagoshima University
• Principal Investigator: GOTO MASAMICHI 鹿児島大学, 医歯学総合研究科, 客員研究員 (80325779)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 鈴木 幸一 帝京大学, 医療技術学部, 教授 (20206478) ; 圓 純一郎 国際医療福祉大学, 成田保健医療学部, 講師 (30587879)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: Mycolactone / 神経傷害機構 / シュワン細胞 / ブルーリ潰瘍

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Buruli ulcer is a chronic painless skin disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. The local nerve damage induced by M. ulcerans invasion is similar to the nerve damage evoked by the injection of mycolactone in a Buruli ulcer mouse model. In order to elucidate the mechanism of this nerve damage, we tested and compared the cytotoxic effect of synthetic mycolactone A/B on cultured Schwann cells, fibroblasts and macrophages. Mycolactone induced much higher cell death and apoptosis in Schwann cell line SW10 than in fibroblast line L929. These results suggest that mycolactone is a key substance in the production of nerve damage of Buruli ulcer.

Free Research Field

病理学