Neuroimmunological basis on response to stress in patients with irritable bowel syndrome

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24590875
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: General internal medicine (including Psychosomatic medicine)
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Kanazawa Motoyori 東北大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (70323003)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): KANO Michiko 東北大学, 学際科学フロンティア研究所, 助教 (20344658) ; FUKUDO Shin 東北大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 教授 (80199249)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 過敏性腸症候群 / 消化管運動 / 内臓知覚 / コルチコトロピン放出ホルモン / ストレス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We tested the hypotheses that patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) show exaggeration of phasic and tonic motility responses in the colorectum using a barostat device after exogenous corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH).
After administration of CRH, IBS patients showed more increased smooth muscle tone and more phasic contractions compared to healthy subjects. Pain thresholds to colorectal distention were associated with exaggeration of gastrointestinal motility responses but the response to serum levels of ACTH or cortisol and parental behaviors in chilhood were not.
These findings support the idea that more increased peripheral CRH signaling pathway may induce exacerbation of IBS symptoms as well as abnormal central CRH system. Development of novel treatment options focused on CRH and/or its receptors should be warranted for management of IBS.

Free Research Field

心身医学