Comprehensive analysis of epigenetics of BBB cells in the brain by periodontal pathogens.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K16998
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57030:Conservative dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Health Sciences University of Hokkaido
• Principal Investigator: Morikawa Tetsuro 北海道医療大学, 歯学部, 助教 (90845463)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 歯周病原菌 / アルツハイマー病 / 血液脳関門 / 網羅的解析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been shown to be associated with periodontal disease, and invasion of the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. g) into the brain has been confirmed. It is known that periodontal pathogens or pathogen-derived substances lead to dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier and cause AD. In this study, P. g and cerebral vascular endothelial cells were used. 12 hours after the addition of P. g, RNA was extracted and analyzed using RNA sequencing. The analysis showed a decrease in gene expression of 92 genes and an increase in gene expression of 83 genes in the experimental group compared to the control group. No significant differences were found among the genes whose expression was altered.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Free Research Field

口腔病理

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、血液脳関門を構成する細胞の一つである脳血管内皮細胞を用いて歯周病原菌による遺伝子発現変化を確認した。その結果、歯周病原菌であるPorphyromonas gingivalisの刺激により脳血管内皮細胞の遺伝子発現に変化が生じる可能性が示唆された。血液脳関門の機能低下はアルツハイマー病の原因となることが知られており、歯周病原菌による血液脳関門の機能低下メカニズムについては明らかとなっていない。本研究は、歯周病とアルツハイマー病の関係性の解明とアルツハイマー病予防につながる可能性がある。