Study on the role of gut microbiota and gut immunity in multiple sclerosis

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24229006
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (S)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Neurology
• Research Institution: National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry
• Principal Investigator: Yamamura Takashi 国立研究開発法人国立精神・神経医療研究センター, 神経研究所免疫研究部, 部長 (90231670)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): MIYAKE Sachiko 順天堂大学, 医学部免疫学講座, 教授 (50266045) ; HATTORI Masahira 早稲田大学, 理工学術院先進理工学研究科, 教授 (70175537) ; MORITA Hidetoshi 岡山大学, 大学院環境生命科学研究科, 教授 (70257294)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-05-31 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 脳神経疾患 / 細菌 / ゲノム / 免疫学 / トランスレーショナルリサーチ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, of which prevalence is remarkably increasing in developed countries for unknown reason. Here we explored if the increase of MS could be explained by alterations in gut immune system, caused by altered gut microbiota associated with westrenization. Using next generation sequencer, we have analyzed the gut microbiota compositions in MS patients as compared with healthy individuals. This analysis showed a significant dysbiosis in MS, which may promote development of MS. Most notably, we found a reduction of certina bacterial species in MS known to generate short chain fatty acids capable of inducing reglatory T cells. Furtheremore, we were able to demonstrate the presence of gut flora-dependent CD4+ intraepithelial lympghocytes (IEL), which can inhibit revelopment of animal MS model. Collective data supports the validity of our original idea that the increase of MS could be caused by westernization.

Free Research Field

神経内科学