Development of a novel periodontal disease treatment targeting the interaction between periodontal bacteria and immunosuppressive receptors.

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K09907
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 57020:Oral pathobiological science-related
• Research Institution: Saga University
• Principal Investigator: Miyake Yasunobu 佐賀大学, 医学部, 准教授 (10392143)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 歯周病菌 / 免疫回避 / 治療標的

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Finding that inhibition of gingipain may be a novel therapeutic strategy against periodontal disease bacteria, we conducted a comprehensive search for gingipain inhibitors and found two peptide-based inhibitors and one small molecule inhibitor. These gingipain inhibitors enhanced the immune response to periodontal disease bacteria by human peripheral blood monocytes and increased the production of IL-8 and TNF. In addition, these gingipain inhibitors promoted neutrophil and monocyte infiltration in the peripheral blood, spleen, and lungs, enhanced TNF and IL-6 expression, and accelerated the clearance rate of periodontal bacteria in each tissue in a systemic infection model of mice.

Free Research Field

感染免疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

歯周病菌はジンジパインを介して宿主免疫応答を抑制しており、ジンジパイン阻害剤は、その免疫抑制を解除することで、宿主免疫応答を増強できることが明らかとなった。これにより、ジンジパイン阻害剤が、歯周病菌に対する新規治療薬として有望である可能性が示唆された。