The role of the microbiota-mediated epitranscriptome in homeostasis

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K15087
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 43050:Genome biology-related
• Research Institution: Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: Terajima Hideki 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, 生命医科学研究センター, 基礎科学特別研究員 (60912897)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 腸内細菌

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The imbalance of commensal gut microbiota is known to be a risk factor for various diseases such as cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, allergies, and obesity. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of gut microbiota-mediated host gene expression. We performed RNA-seq analysis with mice in a normal environment and germ-free mice lacking gut microbiota. We found that mice in a normal environment exhibited increased expression levels of interferon-stimulated genes compared to germ-free mice.

Free Research Field

Gut microbiota

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

腸内細菌叢と宿主は密接な共生関係にあり、腸内細菌が宿主の健康に様々な良い影響を与える一方で、その乱れは病気の発症と関連する。腸内細菌が引き起こす病気のメカニズムを理解するためには、腸内細菌が宿主に与える影響の分子基盤を解明する必要がある。本研究により明らかにされた、腸内細菌によって誘導される宿主の遺伝子発現変化は、腸内細菌が原因となる様々な病気の治療法の開発に役に立つ可能性があり、社会的意義が高いと言える。