scholarly journals Sustained Drug Treatment Alters the Gut Microbiota in Rheumatoid Arthritis

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liyan Mei ◽  
Zhihua Yang ◽  
Xiaolin Zhang ◽  
Zehao Liu ◽  
Maojie Wang ◽  
...  

Several studies have investigated the causative role of the microbiome in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but changes in the gut microbiome in RA patients during drug treatment have been less well studied. Here, we tracked the longitudinal changes in gut bacteria in 22 RA patients who were randomized into two groups and treated with Huayu-Qiangshen-Tongbi formula (HQT) plus methotrexate (MTX) or leflunomide (LEF) plus MTX. There were differences in the gut microbiome between untreated (at baseline) RA patients and healthy controls, with 37 species being more abundant in the RA patients and 21 species (including Clostridium celatum) being less abundant. Regarding the functional analysis, vitamin K2 biosynthesis was associated with RA-enriched bacteria. Additionally, in RA patients, alterations in gut microbial species appeared to be associated with RA-related clinical indicators through changing various gut microbiome functional pathways. The clinical efficacy of the two treatments was further observed to be similar, but the response trends of RA-related clinical indices in the two treatment groups differed. For example, HQT treatment affected the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), while LEF treatment affected the C-reactive protein (CRP) level. Further, 11 species and 9 metabolic pathways significantly changed over time in the HQT group (including C. celatum, which increased), while only 4 species and 2 metabolic pathways significantly changed over time in the LEF group. In summary, we studied the alterations in the gut microbiome of RA patients being treated with HQT or LEF. The results provide useful information on the role of the gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of RA, and they also provide potentially effective directions for developing new RA treatments.

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guojun Wu ◽  
Naisi Zhao ◽  
Chenhong Zhang ◽  
Yan Y. Lam ◽  
Liping Zhao

AbstractTo demonstrate the causative role of gut microbiome in human health and diseases, we first need to identify, via next-generation sequencing, potentially important functional members associated with specific health outcomes and disease phenotypes. However, due to the strain-level genetic complexity of the gut microbiota, microbiome datasets are highly dimensional and highly sparse in nature, making it challenging to identify putative causative agents of a particular disease phenotype. Members of an ecosystem seldomly live independently from each other. Instead, they develop local interactions and form inter-member organizations to influence the ecosystem’s higher-level patterns and functions. In the ecological study of macro-organisms, members are defined as belonging to the same “guild” if they exploit the same class of resources in a similar way or work together as a coherent functional group. Translating the concept of “guild” to the study of gut microbiota, we redefine guild as a group of bacteria that show consistent co-abundant behavior and likely to work together to contribute to the same ecological function. In this opinion article, we discuss how to use guilds as the aggregation unit to reduce dimensionality and sparsity in microbiome-wide association studies for identifying candidate gut bacteria that may causatively contribute to human health and diseases.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing Zhang ◽  
Yanmei Zhang ◽  
Lu Zeng ◽  
Guowei Chen ◽  
La Zhang ◽  
...  

Objective: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) has become the major cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) associated with the progression of renal fibrosis. As gut microbiota dysbiosis is closely related to renal damage and fibrosis, we investigated the role of gut microbiota and microbiota-related serum metabolites in DKD progression in this study.Methods: Fecal and serum samples obtained from predialysis DKD patients from January 2017 to December 2019 were detected using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, respectively. Forty-one predialysis patients were divided into two groups according to their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR): the DKD non-ESRD group (eGFR ≥ 15 ml/min/1.73 m2) (n = 22), and the DKD ESRD group (eGFR < 15 ml/min/1.73 m2) (n = 19). The metabolic pathways related to differential serum metabolites were obtained by the KEGG pathway analysis. Differences between the two groups relative to gut microbiota profiles and serum metabolites were investigated, and associations between gut microbiota and metabolite concentrations were assessed. Correlations between clinical indicators and both microbiota-related metabolites and gut microbiota were calculated by Spearman rank correlation coefficient and visualized by heatmap.Results: Eleven different intestinal floras and 239 different serum metabolites were identified between the two groups. Of 239 serum metabolites, 192 related to the 11 different intestinal flora were mainly enriched in six metabolic pathways, among which, phenylalanine and tryptophan metabolic pathways were most associated with DKD progression. Four microbiota-related metabolites in the phenylalanine metabolic pathway [hippuric acid (HA), L-(−)-3-phenylactic acid, trans-3-hydroxy-cinnamate, and dihydro-3-coumaric acid] and indole-3 acetic acid (IAA) in the tryptophan metabolic pathway positively correlated with DKD progression, whereas L-tryptophan in the tryptophan metabolic pathway had a negative correlation. Intestinal flora g_Abiotrophia and g_norank_f_Peptococcaceae were positively correlated with the increase in renal function indicators and serum metabolite HA. G_Lachnospiraceae_NC2004_Group was negatively correlated with the increase in renal function indicators and serum metabolites [L-(−)-3-phenyllactic acid and IAA].Conclusions: This study highlights the interaction among gut microbiota, serum metabolites, and clinical indicators in predialysis DKD patients, and provides new insights into the role of gut microbiota and microbiota-related serum metabolites that were enriched in the phenylalanine and tryptophan metabolic pathways, which correlated with the progression of DKD.


2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nashwan S. Albabawaty ◽  
Ali Y. Majid ◽  
Mohammed H. Alosami ◽  
Halla G. Mahmood

Author(s):  
Yue Zhao ◽  
Yuxia Liu ◽  
Shuang Li ◽  
Zhaoyun Peng ◽  
Xiantao Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide (Ferlay et al., Int J Cancer 136:E359–386, 2015). In addition, lung cancer is associated with the highest mortality among all cancer types (Wu et al., Exp Ther Med 16:3004–3010, 2018). Previous studies report that microbiota play an important role in lung cancer. Notably, changes in lung and gut microbiota, are associated with progression of lung cancer. Several studies report that lung and gut microbiome promote lung cancer initiation and development by modulating metabolic pathways, inhibiting the function of immune cells, and producing pro-inflammatory factors. In addition, some factors such as microbiota dysbiosis, affect production of bacteriotoxins, genotoxicity and virulence effect, therefore, they play a key role in cancer progression. These findings imply that lung and gut microbiome are potential markers and targets for lung cancer. However, the role of microbiota in development and progression of lung cancer has not been fully explored. Purpose The aim of this study was to systemically review recent research findings on relationship of lung and gut microbiota with lung cancer. In addition, we explored gut–lung axis and potential mechanisms of lung and gut microbiota in modulating lung cancer progression. Conclusion Pulmonary and intestinal flora influence the occurrence, development, treatment and prognosis of lung cancer, and will provide novel strategies for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of lung cancer.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 199
Author(s):  
Na Young Lee ◽  
Ki Tae Suk

Liver cirrhosis is one of the most prevalent chronic liver diseases worldwide. In addition to viral hepatitis, diseases such as steatohepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, sclerosing cholangitis and Wilson’s disease can also lead to cirrhosis. Moreover, alcohol can cause cirrhosis on its own and exacerbate chronic liver disease of other causes. The treatment of cirrhosis can be divided into addressing the cause of cirrhosis and reversing liver fibrosis. To this date, there is still no clear consensus on the treatment of cirrhosis. Recently, there has been a lot of interest in potential treatments that modulate the gut microbiota and gut-liver axis for the treatment of cirrhosis. According to recent studies, modulation of the gut microbiome by probiotics ameliorates the progression of liver disease. The precise mechanism for relieving cirrhosis via gut microbial modulation has not been identified. This paper summarizes the role and effects of the gut microbiome in cirrhosis based on experimental and clinical studies on absorbable antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics. Moreover, it provides evidence of a relationship between the gut microbiome and liver fibrosis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 75 ◽  
pp. 283-291
Author(s):  
Agata Janczy ◽  
Magdalena Landowska ◽  
Zdzisław Kochan

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is described as an eating disorder, which is characterized by malnutrition, a fear of gaining body mass, and a disturbed self-body image. This disease is dependent on biological, psychological and socio-cultural factors. Among the various biological factors, the importance of intestinal microbiota has recently attracted much attention. Identification of the gut microbiota dysbiosis in patients with AN has opened new and promising research directions. Recent observations focus in particular on the association between intestinal microorganisms and the occurrence of functional gastrointestinal disorders associated with anorexia, anxiety and depression, as well as the regulation of eating habits. The composition of the gut microbiota differs between patients with AN and individuals with normal body mass. This is due to the incorrect diet of patients; on the other hand, there is growing interest in the role of intestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis of AN, its changes through re-nutrition practices, and in particular the modulation of intestinal microbiological composition by means of nutritional interventions or the use of preand probiotics as standard supplements therapy of eating disorders. There is a need for further research about the microbiome - intestine - brain axis. Furthermore, consequences of changes in dietary habits as part of AN treatment are also unknown. However, better knowledge about the relationship between the gut microbiome and the brain can help improve the treatment of this disorder. This review aims to present the current knowledge about the potential role of intestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis, course and treatment of AN.


2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 58-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chi Kit Au ◽  
Tin Lok Lai ◽  
Cheuk Wan Yim

AbstractMajority of rheumatic diseases are complex and multifactorial in etiology. Emerging studies has suggested that the change of human microbiota, especially in the gut, play a pivotal role in its pathogenesis. Dysequilibrium of the gut microbiota triggers the imbalance between pro- and anti- inflammatory immune responses and results in different rheumatic manifestations, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA). In this article, current and future role of the human gut microbiota in rheumatic diseases are discussed.


2022 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuangyue Li ◽  
Georgios Kararigas

There has been a recent, unprecedented interest in the role of gut microbiota in host health and disease. Technological advances have dramatically expanded our knowledge of the gut microbiome. Increasing evidence has indicated a strong link between gut microbiota and the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In the present article, we discuss the contribution of gut microbiota in the development and progression of CVD. We further discuss how the gut microbiome may differ between the sexes and how it may be influenced by sex hormones. We put forward that regulation of microbial composition and function by sex might lead to sex-biased disease susceptibility, thereby offering a mechanistic insight into sex differences in CVD. A better understanding of this could identify novel targets, ultimately contributing to the development of innovative preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for men and women.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Safa Salim ◽  
Ayesha Banu ◽  
Amira Alwa ◽  
Swetha B. M. Gowda ◽  
Farhan Mohammad

AbstractThe idea that alterations in gut-microbiome-brain axis (GUMBA)-mediated communication play a crucial role in human brain disorders like autism remains a topic of intensive research in various labs. Gastrointestinal issues are a common comorbidity in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although gut microbiome and microbial metabolites have been implicated in the etiology of ASD, the underlying molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. In this review, we have summarized recent findings in human and animal models highlighting the role of the gut-brain axis in ASD. We have discussed genetic and neurobehavioral characteristics of Drosophila as an animal model to study the role of GUMBA in ASD. The utility of Drosophila fruit flies as an amenable genetic tool, combined with axenic and gnotobiotic approaches, and availability of transgenic flies may reveal mechanistic insight into gut-microbiota-brain interactions and the impact of its alteration on behaviors relevant to neurological disorders like ASD.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 7990-7993
Author(s):  
Sangeetha R ◽  
Ramesh Raju K A P ◽  
Hemapriya S ◽  
Suganthi V ◽  
Panneerselvam P

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease that causes inflammatory synovitis. The treatment plan of RA includes reducing inflammation and improving the quality of life. Hence, understanding the role of Adenosine deaminase (ADA) and C-reactive protein helps for a better plan of treatment. The present study was undertaken to determine the serum ADA activity and CRP in RA patients and correlate with the severity of the progression of the disease. 25 patients diagnosed with RA as per 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria and 25 age and sex matched healthy controls were included in the study after informed consent. Blood samples were collected from all the subjects after an overnight fast, serum separated was analyzed immediately for Adenosine deaminase(ADA) activity measured using colorimetric method of Guisti and Galanti. Disease score, C-reactive protein, RA factor, ADA and ESR were significantly higher in cases when compared with controls. Significant positive correlation was present between the disease score and C-reactive protein, RA factor among cases. A positive correlation was observed between the disease score and ADA, but it was not statistically significant among cases.


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