Pathology Elucidation and a Novel Therapeutic Strategy Against Sepsis-associated Encephalopathy

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25462842
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Emergency medicine
• Research Institution: Kurume University
• Principal Investigator: NIIYAMA SHUHEI 久留米大学, 医学部, 准教授 (40258455)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): TAKASU Osamu 久留米大学, 医学部・救急医学講座, 教授 (90236216)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 敗血症 / 脳症 / エストロゲン / キヌレニン経路 / 盲腸結紮穿孔モデル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In recent years, tens of millions of people worldwide develop severe sepsis every year, with comorbid encephalopathy increasing mortality in particular. We developed a mouse sepsis model in an attempt to elucidate the mechanisms of sepsis-associated encephalopathy. The model we used was the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model. After confirming improvements of survival rate via estrogen and L-kynurenine administrations, detection of mRNA expressions of a kynurenine receptor, the aryl carbohydrate receptor, and a tryptophanase, the tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase, in peritoneal exudate cells were determined, indicating the involvement of the kynurenine pathway. In this process, we successfully generated a modified model in which intraperitoneal abscess formation, which is considered to be a defect of the original model, can be highly-controlled.

Free Research Field

救急、集中治療