Analysis of mechanism for dietary emulsifying agents caused intestinal inflammatory

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K05875
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 38050:Food sciences-related
• Research Institution: National Defense Medical College
• Principal Investigator: Kurihara Chie 防衛医科大学校(医学教育部医学科進学課程及び専門課程、動物実験施設、共同利用研究施設、病院並びに防衛, 内科学, 助教 (90532515)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 穂苅 量太 防衛医科大学校(医学教育部医学科進学課程及び専門課程、動物実験施設、共同利用研究施設、病院並びに防衛, 内科学, 教授 (90255464)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 乳化剤 / 腸内細菌 / 炎症性腸疾患

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The effect of dietary emulsifiers on small-intestinal microbiota, which is important for gut immunity, has not been studied. We investigated the effect of a dietary emulsifier, polysorbate-80 (P80), on the small intestine in normal mice and Indomethacin-induced inflammation model mice. P80 reduced the microbiota diversity, especially in the small intestine rather than in the colon, in normal mice. And P80 increased the number of sulfide-producing Enterobacteriaceae in small-intestinal mucosa, which was identified as P. mirabilis. P80 alone did not cause small-intestinal injury of normal mice, but exacerbated indomethacin-induced intestinal lesions. We showed that P80 induced dysbiosis in the small intestine, leading to enhanced vulnerability of the small intestine to indomethacin-induced injury. Also, we showed that another kind of emulsifier ingestion changed diversity of the gut microbiota. However, degree of risk for gut damage varied by type of emulsifiers.

Free Research Field

消化器免疫

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年の炎症性腸疾患患者数増加の一因として、乳化剤摂取量の増加が指摘されている。本研究において、乳化剤摂取による腸内細菌叢の撹乱（dysbiosis）が小腸炎を起こしやすい環境を作っていること、また腸管粘膜バリア損傷の程度は乳化剤の種類によって異なることを明らかにした。これらの成果は、今後の炎症性腸疾患の発症予防や食事指導による治療につながることが期待でき、社会に貢献ができると考えている。