Effects of inflammatory mediators produced by oral bacteria on blood-brain barrier and neurological diseases

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K15777
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Morphological basic dentistry
• Research Institution: Saitama Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Suzuki Masahiko 埼玉医科大学, 保健医療学部, 教授 (40105888)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 吉川 圭介 埼玉医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (10435860)
• Research Collaborator: NOMURA ryota ; YAMAMOTO shinji ; IWASA kensuke ; HARUTA asuka
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 口腔内細菌 / 神経疾患

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to clarify the influence of Streptococcus mutans, a causative agent of dental caries, and Porphyromonas gingivalis, a causative agent of periodontitis, on neuronal disease. The cells of S. mutans and P. gingivalis were administered to cuprizone-induced demyelination model mice, which are experimental animal models of multiple sclerosis, and the myelin contents after 5 weeks were evaluated. Administration of S. mutans did not affect demyelination levels, but P. gingivalis suppressed demyelination.

Free Research Field

薬理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

口腔内の二大感染症がう蝕と歯周病であり、それぞれの主な原因菌としてStreptococcus mutans（S. mutans）とPorphyromonas gingivalis（P. gingivalis）が有名である。S. mutansは歯科治療中の出血により、P. gingivalisは慢性的な歯周炎により血液中に侵入すると考えられている。本研究により、P. gingivalisの血中内投与が神経疾患である多発性硬化症の病態を軽くする実験結果が得られた。P. gingivalis菌体外に多発性硬化症の治療候補成分が含まれている可能性がある。