Elucidation of the Mechanism of Brain-Gut Correlation in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K15975
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 53010:Gastroenterology-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Yoshihara Takeo 大阪大学, 医学系研究科, 寄附講座助教 (20814601)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 炎症性腸疾患 / 脳腸相関

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to clarify the interaction between intestinal inflammation and depression and the mechanism of brain-gut interaction. We induced intestinal inflammation in a stress-loaded mouse model and mice with CNS-specific mitochondrial vulnerability. We evaluated intestinal inflammation in both models.
Induction of enteritis in mice with CNS-specific mitochondrial vulnerability showed earlier onset of behavioral abnormalities compared to non-enteritis mice. The mice showed a more severe expression of intestinal inflammation and increased inflammatory cytokine expression than wild-type mice. Therefore, it is considered that the dysregulation of intestinal immunity exacerbated intestinal inflammation due to the dysfunction of the central nervous system.

Free Research Field

消化器内科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は腸炎とうつ病の相互作用と脳腸相関のメカニズムを明らかにすることであり、マウスの中枢神経のミトコンドリア機能異常が腸炎の増悪と行動異常を誘導することを示した。中枢神経系の異常が腸管免疫の調節異常をきたすメカニズムの一端を明らかにしたことで、今後の腸炎と精神症状の発症や治療法開発の端緒となることが期待される。