Mechanism of intestinal bacterial regulation via insulin-mediated production and secretion of antimicrobial peptides

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22646
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0702:Biology at cellular to organismal levels, and related fields
• Research Institution: Saitama University
• Principal Investigator: Takemi Shota 埼玉大学, 理工学研究科, 助教 (70871440)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: Paneth細胞 / 抗菌ペプチド及びタンパク質

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to explore a new regulatory mechanism for the production and secretion of antimicrobial peptides and proteins secreted by Paneth cells located in the crypts of the small intestine. Based on my previous experiments, I hypothesized that insulin is involved in the process. Insulin administration to mice decreased the staining intensity of lysozyme (an antimicrobial protein secreted by Paneth cells). In addition, treatment of organoids prepared from mouse small intestine with insulin resulted in secretion of vesicles from Paneth cells.

Free Research Field

腸内生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、小腸の抗菌ペプチド及びタンパク質の新たな産生・分泌制御機構を明らかにした。これまでインスリンの生理作用に関する研究は代謝関連が主であり、本研究で明らかにしたインスリンによる抗菌物質の産生・分泌の増加という現象は学術的にユニークである。インスリンは食後に血中濃度が上昇するホルモンであるため、本研究で明らかにした抗菌物質の分泌制御機構は、食後の抗菌及びその破綻の結果としての疾患と関連していると考えられる。