The role of gut microbiota on the development of heart failure

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K09469
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Cardiovascular medicine
• Research Institution: National Defense Medical College (2017-2019); Japan Research Promotion Society for Cardiovascular Diseases (2016)
• Principal Investigator: Nagatomo Yuji 防衛医科大学校(医学教育部医学科進学課程及び専門課程、動物実験施設、共同利用研究施設、病院並びに防衛, 医学教育部医学科専門課程, 講師 (70348647)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 吉川 勉 公益財団法人日本心臓血圧研究振興会(臨床研究施設・研究部門), 内科医局, 副院長・部長 (20174906)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 心不全 / 腸内細菌

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, the patients requiring hospitalization due to acute decompensated heart failure were registered. Their blood and stool samples were collected at admission and discharge. Gut microbiota was explored by 16S rRNA analysis. The composition of gut microbiota dramatically changed from admission to discharge. Among them Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio, a measure of dysbiosis was significantly decreased at discharge. The plasma level of short chain fatty acid, which is considered to be derived from gut microbiota did not change significantly between admission and discharge.
The change of butyrate was negatively correlated with the change of body weight, suggesting the association of butyrate with intestinal edema. The change of propionate was negatively correlated with the change of Gemellales、suggesting their association.

Free Research Field

心不全

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

今回の研究成果から、心不全治療の過程で生じる血行動態の変化が腸内細菌叢の変化と関連することが示唆された。より詳細な検討を行い、具体的に心不全の臨床的特徴と腸内細菌叢の変化が如何に関連するかを明らかにすることで心不全治療のための腸内細菌に対する介入法を見出すことが可能となる。具体的には、プロバイオティクス等の投与で腸内細菌叢の変化をもたらすことで心不全を改善する、ないしはその進展を抑制する可能性が考えられる。