Construction of a preventive approach for chronic lung diseases based on a maintenance of tongue microbiota

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H03863
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 57080:Social dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Takeshita Toru 九州大学, 歯学研究院, 准教授 (50546471)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 松元 幸一郎 九州大学, 医学研究院, 准教授 (60325462) ; 二宮 利治 九州大学, 医学研究院, 教授 (30571765) ; 古田 美智子 九州大学, 歯学研究院, 講師 (20509591)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 口腔常在微生物叢 / 舌苔 / COPD / 16S rRNA

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study investigated a relationship between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and tongue microbiota by using a comprehensive molecular approach analyzing bacterial DNA. A molecular epidemiological study for community-dwelling elderly adults demonstrated that a high-biomass tongue microbiota was significantly associated with airflow limitation which is a primary symptom of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, after adjustment for smoking intensity and other covariates. Of the predominant commensals, a higher amount of Prevotella melaninogenica was associated with a higher prevalence of airflow limitation. Our results indicate that dysbiotic tongue microbiota is associated with a higher prevalence of airflow limitation.

Free Research Field

予防歯科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

我々は口腔内表面から剥がれ落ちた大量の常在細菌を唾液とともに常時飲み込んでいる。これらの細菌の一部が微量ながら気道にも流入していることが近年明らかとなってきた。本研究ではこうして微小誤嚥される口腔微生物の主要な供給源である舌苔微生物叢の量および組成と肺機能との関連の存在を明らかにした。本研究により口腔管理による舌の常在細菌叢の制御が肺の健康維持に役立つ可能性が示された。