Development of novel treatment for overactive bladder targeting bladder microbiota

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18138
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56030:Urology-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Okada Koichi 大阪大学, 医学部附属病院, 医員 (30845194)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 膀胱細菌叢 / 過活動膀胱

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In order to clarify the relationship between bladder microbiota and overactive bladder(OAB), we collected specimins and questionnaires for a clinical study to longitudinally examine changes in bladder microflora and overactive bladder symptoms.
The plan was to collect specimens four times at each visit approximately every three months, but due to the spread of new coronavirus infection, we decided to analyze cases in which specimens could be collected at least twice, even if irregularly. At this moment, recruitment of new study participants has been terminated, and specimens and questionnaires from the second and subsequent times are now being collected from study participants.We plan to submit all specimens to the next-generation sequencer after they are collected.

Free Research Field

細菌叢

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

過活動膀胱(OAB)は頻尿や尿失禁のためにQOLが著しく低下する疾患である。OABの患者数は非常に多く本邦では1000万人以上と推定されている。その病態は不明であり根治療法も確立されておらず、その病態解明と根治療法の開発が望まれている。OABは炎症を介さずに頻尿を来す。我々はマウス膀胱に大腸菌由来のリポポリサッカライドを注入すると炎症を介さずに頻尿が生じることを報告してきた。近年、尿路に細菌叢が存在することが示され、膀胱細菌叢がOABに関連することが考えられる。
本研究でOABと細菌叢の関連を明らかできれば、OABの新たな機序解明、新規治療法の開発につながると考えられる。