Involvement of oral bacterial invasion and antibacterial peptides in oral ulcerative mucositis-induced pain

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K20377
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Functional basic dentistry
• Research Institution: Kyushu Dental College
• Principal Investigator: Hitomi Suzuro 九州歯科大学, 歯学部, 助教 (70548924)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 口内炎 / 口腔内細菌 / 抗菌物質 / 疼痛 / 感染性炎症

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Oral ulcerative mucositis induces severe pain. However, the pain mechanisms are not well known. To reveal whether oral bacteria invaded from the ulcer region are involved in the oral ulcerative mucositis-induced pain, we evaluated the pain-related behavior and gene expression level using oral ulcerative mucositis model rats. Spontaneous and mechanical pain are observed in the model and an antibacterial drug inhibited the pain. An antibacterial peptide mRNA in trigeminal ganglion and the ulcer region were upregulated in the model. These results suggested that oral ulcerative mucositis-induced pain is caused by bacterial invasion into the mucosal tissue and antibacterial peptides are released from ganglion cells and ulcer region.

Free Research Field

口腔生理学