Can NASH be induced by leaky gut syndrome ?

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K15029
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 48030:Pharmacology-related
• Research Institution: Shimane University
• Principal Investigator: Ususa Haruki 島根大学, 学術研究院医学・看護学系, 助教 (30707667)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 腸粘膜バリア / 非アルコール性脂肪肝炎 / leaky gut syndrome / 腸内細菌

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Our present study showed that dysfunction of intestinal barrier could induce non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) using food-inducing NASH mice model. We first examined relationship between epithelial para-cellular permeability in intestine and hapatic injury which provoked by feeding NASH-inducing diet for a month, showing that these two factor positively and strongly correlated with each other. Besides, further elevation of plasma level of hepatic injury marker and fibrosis of liver tissue was observed in mice, fed NASH-inducing diet for 3 month feeding, that directly induced by increasing intestinal permeability and dysbiosis. These rusults suggest that dysfunction of intestinal barrier can largely contribute to pathogenesis of NASH.

Free Research Field

腸粘膜バリア

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は昨今関心の高い腸の健康状態が、生活習慣によって誘発される疾患のひとつであるNASHの発症や悪化に影響することを示したものである. この成果をもとに腸粘膜バリアの慢性的な低下であるleaky gut syndromeと全身疾患との関連についてさらなる研究を進める意義が増し、将来的には腸の健康状態の回復や維持を行うことで全身疾患を治療・予防するという方法につながっていくという展望がありうると考えられる.