Characterization of the gut microbiome in a porcine model of thoracic spinal cord injury

Abstract

Background The gut microbiome is a diverse network of bacteria which inhabit our digestive tract and is crucial for efficient cellular metabolism, nutrient absorption, and immune system development. Spinal cord injury (SCI) disrupts autonomic function below the level of injury and can alter the composition of the gut microbiome. Studies in rodent models have shown that SCI-induced bacterial imbalances in the gut can exacerbate the spinal cord damage and impair recovery. In this study we, for the first time, characterized the composition of the gut microbiome in a Yucatan minipig SCI model. We compared the relative abundance of the most dominant bacterial phyla in control samples to those collected from animals who underwent a contusion-compression SCI at the 2nd or 10th Thoracic level. Results We identify specific bacterial fluctuations that are unique to SCI animals, which were not found in uninjured animals given the same dietary regimen or antibiotic administration. Further, we identified a specific time-frame, “SCI-acute stage”, during which many of these bacterial fluctuations occur before returning to “baseline” levels. Conclusion This work presents a dynamic view of the microbiome changes that accompany SCI, establishes a resource for future studies and to understand the changes that occur to gut microbiota after spinal cord injury and may point to a potential therapeutic target for future treatment.

Gut Microbiota and Acute Central Nervous System Injury: A New Target for Therapeutic Intervention

“…(122). In a Yucatan minipig model with a contusioncompression SCI at T2 or T10, Doelman et al presented a dynamic view of the microbiome changes following SCI and identified acute stage, 0-14 post-SCI, as a special time-frame that many of the bacterial fluctuations occur before returning to "baseline" levels (120). SCI promotes intestinal leakiness and bacterial translocation associated with activation of immune cells in GALTs, by increasing the population of B cells, CD8 + T cells, DCs, and macrophages and decreasing CD4 + T cell counts (25).…”

Changes in the composition of the fecal metabolome and gut microbiota contribute to intervertebral disk degeneration in a rabbit model

“…Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria can digest carbohydrates, such as complex oligoglycans present in mucin [ 25 ]. The degradation of these carbohydrates produces short-chain fatty acids, which are reabsorbed by the host for energy [ 26 , 27 ].…”

Multi-omics in Spinal Cord Injury: Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Treatment

“…A similar effect was observed when gut microbiota was studied in SCI patients. SCI has been shown to affect the composition of the gut microbiota in experimental animals (111), and many bacteria can only return to normal levels after SCI fluctuations in the acute phase (112). It has been demonstrated that the gut microbiota of SCI patients differed from the healthy population's in terms of microbial community structure and quantity (113), Additionally, there may be a connection between serum markers, neurogenic bowel dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic disorders and dysregulation of the gut microbiota (114,115).…”