Collagen-binding Streptococcus mutans tied to cerebral microbleeds and intracerebral hemorrhage. (27th September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ihara, Masafumi; Tonomura, Shuichi; Yamamoto, Yumi; Saito, Satoshi
• Is Part Of: Future neurology. Volume 13:Number 4(2018)
• Page Start: 219
• Page End: 224
• Publication Date: 2018-09-27
• Subjects: cerebral microbleeds -- Cnm -- collagen binding protein -- hemorrhagic stroke -- intracerebral hemorrhage -- Streptococcus mutans; Neurology -- Research -- Periodicals; 611.8005
• DOI: 10.2217/fnl-2018-0016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1479-6708

Abstract

Genome-wide association and candidate gene studies have identified COL4A1 and COL4A2 as risk genes for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), suggesting that the disrupted collagen architecture could be a contributory factor in disease onset. Environmental factors that disrupt the vascular collagen architecture may therefore bring about gene–environmental interactions. Certain oral strains of Streptococcus mutans expressing Cnm, a collagen-binding protein, have been found to be responsible for ICH in a preclinical study. In support of this finding, a population-based study showed a close association between Cnm-positive Streptococcus mutans with cerebral microbleeds, a precursor of ICH, and a hospital-based study between such bacteria with cerebral microbleeds and ICH. Taken together, these findings suggest that Cnm-positive Streptococcus mutans serve as an important environmental factor in ICH.