Elucidation of the mechanism of colorectal cancer development by intestinal bacteria with epithelial cytotoxicity

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K15008
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 42040:Laboratory animal science-related
• Research Institution: Yamaguchi University (2022); Osaka University (2021)
• Principal Investigator: Tsuji Shunya 山口大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 助教 (80898370)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: SARS-CoV-2 / 細胞老化 / SASP / 腸内細菌

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we started with the aim of clarifying the relationship between the disturbance of the gut microbiota in the SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2) infection and the development of colon cancer. As a result, we did not detect any disturbance in gut microbiota after SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, during the course of this research, a phenomenon called cellular senescence was induced in the lungs, which are the main organs infected by the SARS-CoV-2, and became one of the causes of the inflammatory response that persisted even after the virus was eliminated from the body. It was made clear that such a phenomenon may be part of the pathological condition of sequelae that continues even after recovery from COVID-19, called Long COVID, which is currently a global problem.

Free Research Field

感染症

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

新型コロナウイルス感染症（COVID-19）は2019年12月に発生した新興感染症であり、回復した人の10%程度で後遺症が残り、1年以上もその症状が持続してしまうことが問題となっているが、依然としてその原因は明らかになっていない。本研究ではSARS-CoV-2感染により誘導される老化細胞がその原因となっている可能性を明らかにすることができた点で大きな社会的な意義があると考えている。