Do probiotics reverse immune paralysis in sepsis?

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K20164
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59040:Nutrition science and health science-related
• Research Institution: Suzuka University of Medical Science
• Principal Investigator: Nago Nodoka 鈴鹿医療科学大学, 保健衛生学部, 助教 (10772593)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: プロバイオティクス / 敗血症 / 感染症 / サルモネラ / 腸管粘膜 / 免疫麻痺

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In sepsis, there are concerns about organ damage due to excessive activation of immune system cells in the early stage of primary infection, and secondary infection caused by immune paralysis in which the immune system is strongly suppressed in the late stage of infection. We investigated the immune response during sepsis and examined the effects of Probiotics on primary septic infections and the effects of relieving the immune paralysis that causes secondary septic infections. It was found that the dendritic cells (DC) in the intestinal mucosa (MLN) and spleen (SP) in sepsis model mice were functionally different depending on the site. In addition, the effect of suppressing the growth of Salmonella, which can be a source of sepsis, was also observed. These findings suggest that Probiotics may be able to provide effective preventive or therapeutic effects against sepsis and subsequent septic secondary infections.

Free Research Field

栄養学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

敗血症の発症数は世界的に増えつつあるが、その特異的な治療法は未だなく、効果的な治療法が切望されている。敗血症に罹患すると進行が早く、重症化や二次感染への罹患も待ち受けており長期予後の悪化や入院生活の延長を余儀なくされる可能性が非常に高いため、早期の効果的対応が必要と考える。本研究では、敗血症性免疫麻痺に関連するDC活性の分子基盤を示し、また、プロバイオティクスが敗血症発症源の1つである腸管感染症の予防もしくは治療に効果的に寄与する可能性があることを示した。