Elucidation of the pathogenesis of the ocular surface diseases associated with meibomian gland lipids, commensal bacteria and sex steroid hormones

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K09996
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56060:Ophthalmology-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Suzuki Tomo 京都府立医科大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 客員講師 (30613236)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 須谷 尚史 東京大学, 定量生命科学研究所, 准教授 (30401524) ; 白髭 克彦 東京大学, 定量生命科学研究所, 教授 (90273854) ; 出来尾 格 東京慈恵会医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (80338128) ; 木下 茂 京都府立医科大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (30116024)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: マイボーム腺 / マイボーム腺機能不全 / マイボーム腺炎 / ドライアイ / マイクロバイオーム / 脂質分析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We performed comprehensive lipid analysis as well as microbiome analysis of Meibomian gland secretion(meibum) collected from the subjects incidental detailed clinical findings. The microbiome analysis showed that with aging, the bacterial flora of healthy individuals decreased in the diversity with a significant decrease in the relative abundance of Cutibacterium acnes. Lipidomic analysis showed significant decrease of the non-polar lipids (NPL) and significant increase of polar lipids (PL) in healthy elderly and patients with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) compared to healthy young subjects, which resulted in subjective symptoms related to the "quality" of vision (p<0.05). These results suggest that age-related changes in lipid composition and bacterial flora of the meibum may affect ocular surface homeostasis, which in turn may affect visual function.

Free Research Field

眼科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

加齢に伴うマイボーム腺機能の低下(MGD)は、ドライアイや眼表面炎症性疾患の発症につながるだけでなく、視機能低下等の自覚症状にも影響している。その原因となりうるmeibumの質的変化について、脂質組成と細菌叢の両面から加齢性変化を明らかにでき、今後の新規治療法の開発につながると思われる。