Elucidation of the mechanism of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) development based on gut microbiota analysis

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K07693
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 50010:Tumor biology-related
• Research Institution: Kagoshima University (2021); University of Miyazaki (2019-2020)
• Principal Investigator: Nakahata Shingo 鹿児島大学, 総合科学域総合研究学系, 教授 (80437938)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 腸内細菌叢 / 成人T細胞白血病

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The gut microbiota plays an important role in maintaining host homeostasis through intestinal immunity and metabolism. In this study, we have demonstrated for the first time that changes in the gut microbiota may be a risk factor for ATL exacerbations. We succeeded in identifying a bacterial group that significantly increased in ATL patients compared to healthy subjects, and found a bacterial group that correlates with sIL2R, which is known as a tumor marker. Furthermore, from the bacterial group that was increased in HTLV-1 carriers, it was found that there are bacteria that correlate with the HTLV-1 provirus loads. In addition, analysis of shotgun metagenome data provided results suggesting the possibility of intestinal metabolic disorders in ATL patients, suggesting that they may be involved in the pathogenesis of ATL.

Free Research Field

病態医科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究によってATL患者における腸内細菌叢の動態が初めて明らかになり、ATL患者の代謝や免疫機能にも関わる可能性を見出した。つまり、ATLの病態形成における宿主環境因子としての腸内細菌叢の関与が明らかになり、ATLの病態解析の一助となるものと考えられる。さらに、ATL発症予測マーカーとなりうる腸内細菌を同定できたことは、これまでなし得なかった発症予測診断や発症予防法の開発につながるものと期待している。今後、ATLの病態における腸内細菌叢の役割を解明し、臨床応用に繋げていきたいと考えている。