2013 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

Enteric glial cells may be involved in a pathophysiological mechanism of clinical symptoms in functional dyspepsia

Research Project

Project/Area Number	24790659
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
Allocation Type	Multi-year Fund
Research Field	General internal medicine (including Psychosomatic medicine)
Research Institution	Osaka City University
Principal Investigator	TANAKA Fumio 大阪市立大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 後期臨床研究医 (20623292)
Project Period (FY)	2012-04-01 – 2014-03-31
Keywords	ストレス / 神経科学 / 機能性ディスペプシア
Research Abstract	Design: A clinical assessment and a duodenal biopsy specimens were obtained from 6 patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) and 3 healthy subjects. Mucosal expressions of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) protein and intercellular space between duodenal epithelial cells were evaluated. Results: Compared with healthy subjects, FD patients exhibited: (a) high symptom severities which belong to postprandial distress syndrome and somatization; (b) increased expression of GDNF protein; and (c) dilated intercellular space. The expression of GDNF was positively correlated with intercellular space. The expression of GDNF had a tendency of positive correlation with symptoms such as postprandial distress. Conclusions: The duodenal mucosa of FD patients displays increased expression of GDNF associated with dilated intercellular space, which may be a pathophysiological mechanism of clinical symptoms.

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