Relationship between cytomegalovirus and epithelial disorders hidden in postpartum exacerbations of ulcerative colitis

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K17475
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 53010:Gastroenterology-related
• Research Institution: Showa University
• Principal Investigator: Ino Satoshi 昭和大学, 医学部, 兼任講師 (90568742)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 潰瘍性大腸炎 / 産後増悪 / タイトジャンクション / オキシトシン / サイトメガロウィルス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic enteritis with repeated relapses and remissions. It is known that relapses and exacerbations are likely to occur during pregnancy and after childbirth. Patients include many women who give birth, and measures against postpartum exacerbations are an urgent issue. The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics of the postpartum colonic mucosa and to clarify the effect of cytomegalovirus reactivation on the colonic mucosa. A series of results suggested that oxytocin-induced mucosal permeability enhancement through decreased TJP1 and OCLN expression may be involved as a cause of postpartum exacerbation. Although it is thought that postpartum exacerbations are affected by multiple factors other than oxytocin, the involvement of CMV infection in postpartum exacerbations is limited in this study, and further studies are needed to elucidate the causes of postpartum exacerbations.

Free Research Field

炎症性腸疾患

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究を通じて産後増悪の背景には粘膜透過性亢進が存在する可能性が示唆された。粘膜透過性亢進を背景に持ったleaky gut症候群に含まれる多くの疾患（関節リウマチや橋本病やうつ病など）が産後増悪することを鑑みると、本研究で得られた知見は、潰瘍性大腸炎に限らず産後増悪する多くの疾患にも発展可能な学術的意義があると考えられる。
一方で今回の検討ではサイトメガロウイルス感染の産後増悪への関与は限定的で、産後増悪の要因解明にはさらなる検討が必要と考えられた。