Insight into the Mechanism Regulating Myocardial Structure by Gut Microbiota and Therapeutic Application for Heart Failure

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K17542
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 53020:Cardiology-related
• Research Institution: The Institute for Adult Diseases Asahi Life Foundation
• Principal Investigator: Kamo Takehiro 公益財団法人朝日生命成人病研究所, 循環器科, 部長 (10722556)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 心不全 / 腸内細菌 / 腸内代謝物質

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this research is to explore the link between the heart and the gut and to clarify the functional role of gut microbiota in the pathophysiology of heart failure. This research tests the hypothesis that manipulation of gut microbiota influences the structure of the heart. I have found that oral administration of antibiotic cocktail attenuated cardiac hypertrophy in mice with heart failure. Furthermore, I have discovered that oral treatment with either antibiotic cocktail or a single antibiotic agent caused a significant decrease in myocardial mass in control mice without heart failure.

Free Research Field

循環器内科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究によって腸内細菌叢や腸内代謝物質と心臓形態との関連性が明らかになれば、心不全の病態研究にブレイクスルーがもたらされ、さらに腸内細菌叢や腸内代謝物質への介入による新たな心不全治療開発の基盤構築につながることが期待される。すなわち、食事や薬剤などにより腸内細菌叢や腸内代謝物質を制御することができれば、これまでの薬物治療とは全く異なるアプローチによる心不全治療が確立されることになる。