Elucidation of mechanism of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis aggravation caused by mutans streptococci

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K20586
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Orthodontics/Pediatric dentistry
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Naka Shuhei 大阪大学, 歯学研究科, 助教 (10589774)
• Research Collaborator: NAKANO Kazuhiko 大阪大学, 歯学研究科, 教授 (00379083) ; NOMURA Ryota 大阪大学, 歯学研究科, 准教授 (90437385)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 非アルコール性脂肪肝炎 / う蝕原性細菌 / コラーゲン結合タンパク / 肝臓細胞 / 脂肪酸

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The mechanism of aggravation of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis caused by Streptococcus mutans, a major pathogen of dental caries, was investigated focusing on the cell surface 120-kDa collagen-binding protein (Cnm protein) and 190-kDa Protein Antigen (PA). In hepatic cells with accumulated oleic acid, a type of unsaturated fatty acids, S. mutans demonstrated an ability to attach the hepatic cells via Cnm protein. In addition, bacterial adhesion to unsaturated fatty acids occurred via PA antigen, causing a prominent increase in bacterial adhesion to hepatic cells, thus leading to aggravation of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Free Research Field

小児歯科学