Investigation of pathomechanism of cerebral microbleeds in collagen-binding protein-producing cariogenic bacteria

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K16961
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57020:Oral pathobiological science-related
• Research Institution: National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute
• Principal Investigator: Hattori Yorito 国立研究開発法人国立循環器病研究センター, 病院, 特任部長 (60713849)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: Cnm / Stereptococcus mutans / 脳内出血 / Bリピート

Outline of Final Research Achievements

An association between oral carriage of the cariogenic bacterium Streptococcus mutans, which expresses the collagen-binding protein Cnm, and intracerebral hemorrhage has been demonstrated, with a significantly higher number of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) in the carriers. However, it is unclear what determines the severity of CMBs in Cnm-positive S. mutans carriers. Among 68 Cnm-positive S. mutans carriers, 12 patients with short Cnm B repeat lengths (<486 bp) had benign strains (CMBs ≦1), and among those with long B repeat lengths, 25 had malignant strains (CMBs ≧2) The results suggest that B-repeat length is associated with the severity of deep CMBs.

Free Research Field

脳神経内科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

Bリピートの長短が深部CMBsの重症度と関連することが示唆され、Bリピート長の長い患者においては、より厳密な降圧療法を実施し、脳内出血の発症予防を社会的に啓発することが重要である。学術的には、Bリピート長の簡易測定法の開発、他のリピート伸長病のように核酸医薬などの開発が進むことが期待される。