Identification of gut microbiota associated with ectopic neurogenesis and development of a strategy for the treatment of neurological disorders

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H02808
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 51030:Pathophysiologic neuroscience-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Matsuda Taito 九州大学, 医学研究院, 講師 (10756993)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 梅山 大地 九州大学, 医学研究院, 特任助教 (30706370)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 腸内細菌 / 神経幹細胞 / ニューロン新生 / てんかん / けいれん感受性 / 抗菌薬

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Neural stem cells in the subgranular zone of the hippocampal dentate gyrus of adult mammalian brains, including humans, have been observed to produce new neurons throughout life. However, recent reports have indicated that ectopic placement of some of these newborn neurons into the hilus may be epileptogenic. The detailed mechanism of this phenomenon remains unclear. In this study, we employed our own mouse model of increased seizure susceptibility to investigate the potential role of alterations in the intestinal microbiota in ectopic neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus. They demonstrated that elimination of specific intestinal bacteria through antimicrobial administration can effectively decrease the increased seizure susceptibility.

Free Research Field

神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、同定した善玉菌の投与あるいは抗生物質投与による悪玉菌の除去などにより、「非侵襲的に」異所性ニューロン新生及びけいれん感受性亢進を改善する方法の開発を目指している。特に、てんかん原生獲得を防ぐ治療法はこれまでに確立されておらず、独創的な視点からてんかん治療に貢献できる。