Altered diversity and composition of gut microbiota in patients with allergic rhinitis.
Recently, multiple studies have suggested an association between gut dysbiosis and allergic rhinitis (AR) development. However, the role of gut microbiota in AR development remains obscure.
The goal of this study was to compare the gut microbiota composition and short-chain fatty acid (SCFAs) differences associated with AR (N = 18) and HCs (healthy controls, N = 17). Gut microbiota 16SrRNA gene sequences were analyzed based on next-generation sequencing. SCFAs in stool samples were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
Compared with HCs, the gut microbiota composition of AR was significantly different in diversity and richness. At the phylum level, the abundance of Firmicutes in the AR group were significantly lower than those in the HCs group. At the genus level, the abundance of Blautia, Eubacterium_hallii_group, Romboutsia, Collinsella, Dorea, Subdoligranulum and Fusicatenibacter in the AR group were significantly lower than that in the HCs group. The concentrations of SCFAs were significantly lower in the AR group compared with the HCs group. Correlation analysis showed that the Eubacterium-hallii-group and Blautia correlated positively with SCFAs.
Our results demonstrate compositional and functional alterations of the gut microbiome in AR.
Zhou MS
,Zhang B
,Gao ZL
,Zheng RP
,Marcellin DFHM
,Saro A
,Pan J
,Chu L
,Wang TS
,Huang JF
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Microbiome profiling of nasal extracellular vesicles in patients with allergic rhinitis.
Nasal microbiota is crucial for the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis (AR), which has been reported to be different from that of healthy individuals. However, no study has investigated the microbiota in nasal extracellular vesicles (EVs). We aimed to compare the microbiome composition and diversity in EVs between AR patients and healthy controls (HCs) and reveal the potential metabolic mechanisms in AR.
Eosinophil counts and serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels were measured in patients with AR (n = 20) and HCs (n = 19). Nasal EVs were identified using transmission electron microscopy and flow cytometry. 16S rRNA sequencing was used to profile the microbial communities. Alpha and beta diversities were analyzed to determine microbial diversity. Taxonomic abundance was analyzed based on the linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe). Microbial metabolic pathways were characterized using Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUst2) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses.
Eosinophils, total serum IgE, and IgE specific to Dermatophagoides were increased in patients with AR. Alpha diversity in nasal EVs from patients with AR was lower than that in HCs. Beta diversity showed microbiome differences between the AR and HCs groups. The microbial abundance was distinct between AR and HCs at different taxonomic levels. Significantly higher levels of the genera Acetobacter, Mycoplasma, Escherichia, and Halomonas were observed in AR patients than in HCs. Conversely, Zoogloea, Streptococcus, Burkholderia, and Pseudomonas were more abundant in the HCs group than in the AR group. Moreover, 35 microbial metabolic pathways recognized in AR patients and HCs, and 25 pathways were more abundant in the AR group.
Patients with AR had distinct microbiota characteristics in nasal EVs compared to that in HCs. The metabolic mechanisms of the microbiota that regulate AR development were also different. These findings show that nasal fluid may reflect the specific pattern of microbiome EVs in patients with AR.
Chiang TY
,Yang YR
,Zhuo MY
,Yang F
,Zhang YF
,Fu CH
,Lee TJ
,Chung WH
,Chen L
,Chang CJ
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Fecal and serum metabolomic signatures and gut microbiota characteristics of allergic rhinitis mice model.
The etiology of allergic rhinitis (AR) is complicated. Traditional therapy of AR still has challenges, such as low long-term treatment compliance, unsatisfactory therapeutic outcomes, and a high financial burden. It is urgent to investigate the pathophysiology of allergic rhinitis from different perspectives and explore brand-new possible preventative or treatment initiatives.
The aim is to apply a multi-group technique and correlation analysis to explore more about the pathogenesis of AR from the perspectives of gut microbiota, fecal metabolites, and serum metabolism.
Thirty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into the AR and Con(control) groups. A standardized Ovalbumin (OVA)-induced AR mouse model was established by intraperitoneal OVA injection followed by nasal excitation. We detected the serum IL-4, IL-5, and IgE by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), evaluated the histological characteristics of the nasal tissues by the hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, and observed the nasal symptoms (rubs and sneezes) to evaluate the reliability of the AR mouse model. The colonic NF-κB protein was detected by Western Blot, and the colonic histological characteristics were observed by the H&E staining to evaluate inflammation of colon tissue. We analyzed the V3 and V4 regions of the 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) gene from the feces (colon contents) through 16S rDNA sequencing technology. Untargeted metabolomics was used to examine fecal and serum samples to find differential metabolites. Finally, through comparison and correlation analysis of differential gut microbiota, fecal metabolites, and serum metabolites, we further explore the overall impact of AR on gut microbiota, fecal metabolites, and host serum metabolism and its correlation.
In the AR group, the IL-4, IL-5, IgE, eosinophil infiltration, and the times of rubs and sneezes were significantly higher than those in the Con group, indicating the successful establishment of the AR model. No differences in diversity were detected between the AR and Con groups. However, there were modifications in the microbiota's structure. At the phylum level, the proportion of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria in the AR group increased significantly, while the proportion of Bacteroides decreased significantly, and the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroides was higher. The key differential genera, such as Ruminococcus, were increased significantly in the AR group, while the other key differential genera, such as Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, and Prevotella, were significantly decreased in the Con group. Untargeted metabolomics analysis identified 28 upregulated and 4 downregulated differential metabolites in feces and 11 upregulated and 16 downregulated differential metabolites in serum under AR conditions. Interestingly, one of the significant difference metabolites, α-Linoleic acid (ALA), decreased consistently in feces and serum of AR. KEGG functional enrichment analysis and correlation analysis showed a close relationship between differential serum metabolites and fecal metabolites, and changes in fecal and serum metabolic patterns are associated with altered gut microbiota in AR. The NF-κB protein and inflammatory infiltration of the colon increased considerably in the AR group.
Our study reveals that AR alters fecal and serum metabolomic signatures and gut microbiota characteristics, and there is a striking correlation between the three. The correlation analysis of the microbiome and metabolome provides a deeper understanding of AR's pathogenesis, which may provide a theoretical basis for AR's potential prevention and treatment strategies.
Chen Z
,He S
,Wei Y
,Liu Y
,Xu Q
,Lin X
,Chen C
,Lin W
,Wang Y
,Li L
,Xu Y
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《Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology》