A metagenome-wide association study of the gut microbiota in recurrent aphthous ulcer and regulation by thalidomide

Abstract

Recurrent aphthous ulcer (RAU), one of the most common diseases in humans, has an unknown etiology and is difficult to treat. Thalidomide is an important immunomodulatory and antitumor drug and its effects on the gut microbiota still remain unclear. We conducted a metagenomic sequencing study of fecal samples from a cohort of individuals with RAU, performed biochemical assays of cytokines, immunoglobulins and antimicrobial peptides in serum and saliva, and investigated the regulation effects of thalidomide administration and withdrawal. Meanwhile we constructed the corresponding prediction models. Our metagenome-wide association results indicated that gut dysbacteriosis, microbial dysfunction and immune imbalance occurred in RAU patients. Thalidomide regulated gut dysbacteriosis in a species-specific manner and had different sustainable effects on various probiotics and pathogens. A previously unknown association between gut microbiota alterations and RAU was found, and the specific roles of thalidomide in modulating the gut microbiota and immunity were determined, suggesting that RAU may be affected by targeting gut dysbacteriosis and modifying immune imbalance. In-depth insights into sophisticated networks consisting of the gut microbiota and host cells may lead to the development of emerging treatments, including prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics.

Genetic Connectivity of Gut Microbiota and Oral Ulcers: A Mendelian Randomization Study

“…Thalidomide could upregulate the abundance of Lactobacillus and ameliorate recurrent aphthous ulcers. 31 Symbiotic treatment containing fructooligosaccharide, Lactobacillus , and Bifidobacterium was able to reduce pain in recurrent aphthous stomatitis patients. 32 Besides, Oscillospira and Phascolarctobacterium are also recognized as probiotics.…”

Research on the effects of intestinal FXR agonists and antibiotics on the regulation of red kidney bean polysaccharides in the liver metabolism in mice with type 2 diabetes

“…Gut microbiota is increasingly recognized as a key factor in human health (Gilbert et al, 2018). A large number of studies have shown that changes in gut flora are closely linked to the development of type 2 diabetes (Bajzer and Seeley, 2006; Wang et al, 2022; Zhang et al, 2010). Some studies have shown that polysaccharides exert hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities mainly by reducing the abundance of harmful bacteria and increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria (Liu et al, 2017).…”