Intestinal T cells and probiotics treatment in acute ischemic stroke

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K05492
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 38050:Food sciences-related
• Research Institution: Juntendo University
• Principal Investigator: Yamashiro Kazuo 順天堂大学, 医学部, 先任准教授 (00348921)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 脳梗塞 / T細胞 / 糖尿病

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have previously reported that gut microbiota dysbiosis was associated with the outcome of acute ischemic stroke in diabetic mice. Recent studies have shown that the gut microbiota plays an important role in controlling the differentiation of immune cells in the intestinal tract.
In this study, we found that diabetic mice fed a high-fat diet had increased Th17 cells within lamina propria of the small intestine, and had severe neurological dysfunction after ischemic stroke compared to control mice fed a low-fat diet. These findings suggest that intestinal T lymphocytes are associated with the outcome of acute ischemic stroke.

Free Research Field

神経学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

脳卒中は運動麻痺などの重篤な後遺症を起こすことが少なくなく、要介護の主要な原因疾患である。急性期脳梗塞の組織障害を抑制し、後遺症を軽減するための治療法はいまだ不十分である。腸が脳へ影響を及ぼすメカニズムは未だ十分に解明されていないが、本研究により急性期虚血性脳卒中の病態には、腸管リンパ球が関与する可能性が示唆された。さらなる研究の推進により急性期脳梗塞における新たな脳保護治療法を確立することで、脳梗塞患者の予後改善と要介護者の減少、健康寿命の延伸につながることが期待される。