Search and analysis of food substances which could activate NK cells via IL-12

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K05893
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 38050:Food sciences-related
• Research Institution: Maebashi Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Sa Hideo 前橋工科大学, 工学部, 准教授 (80323484)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 乳酸菌 / インターロイキン12 / マクロファージ / ナチュラルキラー細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we focused on interleukin-12 (IL-12), which activates NK cells, important immune cells for defense against infectious diseases, and searched for and analyze lactic acid bacteria strains that enhance the expression and secretion of IL-12 using macrophage-like cells. As a result, we found that two types of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains markedly enhanced IL-12 mRNA expression and secretion. In addition, one strain was found to enhance IL-12 expression mainly through intracellular signaling molecules, such as TLR, in the RNA of this strain. Further, oral administration of this LAB strain to mice up-regulated IL-12 mRNA expression in some organs. The powdered form of the strain was also found to enhance IL-12 expression, suggesting that this LAB strain can be added to and applied in various food products.

Free Research Field

食品機能学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、近年の世界的な感染症含め感染症などに対する生体防御能を高めることが期待される食品成分を、特に乳酸菌の中から探索・解析した。その結果、生体防御に大きく関わるナチュラルキラー細胞を活性化するインターロイキン12（IL-12）の発現・分泌を顕著に亢進する乳酸菌株を新たに見出すことができた。さらに１株については、菌株によるIL-12発現亢進について、新たな細胞内シグナル伝達経路を介していることを見出すに至った。さらに今回見出された乳酸菌株は、大量調製に向けて粉末化した状態でもIL-12誘導活性を確認することができ、実際の食品への添加など新たな食品開発への応用も期待できる。