Therapeutic effects of gut microbiota manipulation on multiple sclerosis

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K05907
• 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: Gunma University (2021-2022); Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (2019-2020)
• Principal Investigator: Miyauchi Eiji 群馬大学, 生体調節研究所, 准教授 (60634706)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 多発性硬化症 / 腸内細菌 / 食物繊維

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we aim to establish treatment approaches by controlling gut microbiota through dietary components. When mice colonized with14 strains of human intestinal bacteria were fed a fiber-free diet, it exacerbated experimental autoreactive encephalomyelitis (EAE). These mice also exhibited characteristics of the gut environment found in MS patients, including increased abundance of Akkermansia and decreased short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). However, further examination revealed that these factors were not involved in the aggravation of EAE caused by the fiber-free diet. Analysis of intestinal metabolites in mice fed the fiber-free diet revealed a significant increase in metabolite X. Moreover, metabolite X may worsen EAE by activating autoreactive T cells. These findings suggest that dietary fiber intake could suppress inflammatory responses in EAE by reducing the production of metabolite X.

Free Research Field

食品科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

多発性硬化症（MS）は未だ根本的治療法が確立されていない自己免疫疾患である。近年、アジアなどを中心に世界的に患者数が増加しており、効果的な予防・治療法の確立が求められている。これまでにMS患者の腸内細菌叢解析やマウスを用いた研究から、腸内細菌叢がMSの発症・重篤化において重要な役割を果たすことが明らかになってきた。本研究では、MS患者の腸内環境をマウスで再現することに成功し、さらにそのマウスがより重篤な症状を呈することを明らかにした。また、この重篤化には食物繊維摂取量が大きく影響し、その作用機序の詳細に迫ることができた。本研究は食事によるMS予防法確立に向けた基盤の構築に繋がると考えられる。