Identification of inflammation-inducing bacteria from oral microbiota in inflammatory bowel disease

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K17413
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 53010:Gastroenterology-related
• Research Institution: Tokai University
• Principal Investigator: IMAI Jin 東海大学, 医学部, 助教 (40725363)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 炎症性腸疾患 / クローン病 / 口腔内細菌 / IgA / 腸内細菌

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We performed metagenomic analysis of saliva and fecal samples from patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and healthy controls to examine differences in the composition of microbiota between the subject and control groups. The results showed that the oral microbiota of IBD patients differed significantly from that of healthy controls. On the other hand, comparison with fecal samples did not lead to the identification of bacteria common to both oral and fecal samples. Furthermore, the patients were classified into two groups according to the presence or absence of periodontitis in IBD, the clinical course and microbiota were compared. Interestingly, Crohn's disease patients with periodontitis were found to use anti-TNF-a antibodies and immunosuppressive drugs more frequently. In the microbiral analysis, substantial differences were observed in the oral microbiota of IBD with and without periodontitis.

Free Research Field

消化器内科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究において、IBDのうち、クローン病においては歯周病の存在は、その細菌叢の乱れから波及し腸管病態へ強く影響を与えている可能性が示唆された。今後、さらなる研究が進むことで、クローン病の診療のおいて口腔内ケアの重要性の科学データが蓄積され、今後注目されていくと考えられる。また、口腔内由来の炎症誘導を起こす細菌が新たな治療ターゲットとなりうると考えられる。