Constituents of stable commensal microbiota imply diverse colonic epithelial cell reactivity in patients with ulcerative colitis

Background Microscopic colitis (MC) is a common cause of chronic diarrhea, predominantly among older adults. Emerging evidence suggests that perturbations of gut microbiome and metabolome may play an important role in MC pathogenesis. Objective To comprehensively characterize alterations of the gut microbial and metabolic composition in MC. Design We established a longitudinal cohort of adult patients with MC and two control groups of individuals — chronic diarrhea controls and age– and sex– matched controls without diarrhea. Using stool samples, gut microbiome was analyzed by whole–genome shotgun metagenomic sequencing, and gut metabolome was profiled by ultra–high performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Per–feature enrichment analyses of microbial species, metabolic pathways, and metabolites were done using multivariable linear models both cross-sectionally comparing MC to controls and longitudinally according to disease activity. Lastly, we performed multi–omics association analyses to assess the relationship between microbiome and metabolome data. Results We included 683 participants, 131 with active MC (66 with both active and remission samples), 159 with chronic diarrhea, and 393 age– and sex–matched controls without diarrhea. The stool microbiome in active MC was characterized by a lower alpha diversity as compared to controls and the remission phase of MC. Compared to controls, we identified eight enriched species in MC, most of which were pro–inflammatory oral–typical species, such as Veillonella dispar and Haemophilus parainfluenzae. In contrast, 11 species, including anti–inflammatory microbes such as Blautia glucerasea and Bacteroides stercoris, were depleted in MC. Similarly, pro–inflammatory metabolites, including lactosylceramides, ceramides, lysophospholipids, and lysoplasmalogens were enriched in active MC as compared to controls or MC cases in remission. Multi–omics association analyses revealed strong and concordant links between microbes, their metabolic pathways, and metabolomic profiles, supporting the tight interplay between disturbances in stool microbiome and metabolome in MC. Conclusion We observed a significant shift in stool microbial and metabolomic composition in MC. Our findings could be used in the future for development of non–invasive biomarkers for diagnosing and monitoring MC and developing novel therapeutics.

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Insights into Gut Dysbiosis: Inflammatory Diseases, Obesity, and Restoration Approaches

Acevedo-Román,

Pagán-Zayas,

Velázquez-Rivera

et al. 2024

IJMS

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The gut microbiota is one of the most critical factors in human health. It involves numerous physiological processes impacting host health, mainly via immune system modulation. A balanced microbiome contributes to the gut’s barrier function, preventing the invasion of pathogens and maintaining the integrity of the gut lining. Dysbiosis, or an imbalance in the gut microbiome’s composition and function, disrupts essential processes and contributes to various diseases. This narrative review summarizes key findings related to the gut microbiota in modern multifactorial inflammatory conditions such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. It addresses the challenges posed by antibiotic-driven dysbiosis, particularly in the context of C. difficile infections, and the development of novel therapies like fecal microbiota transplantation and biotherapeutic drugs to combat these infections. An emphasis is given to restoration of the healthy gut microbiome through dietary interventions, probiotics, prebiotics, and novel approaches for managing gut-related diseases.

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Constituents of stable commensal microbiota imply diverse colonic epithelial cell reactivity in patients with ulcerative colitis

Cited by 4 publications

References 35 publications

Heat-treated brown rice starch structure and effect on short-chain fatty acids and mouse intestinal microbiota

Heat-treated brown rice starch structure and effect on short-chain fatty acids and mouse intestinal microbiota

Composition and Function of the Gut Microbiome in Microscopic Colitis

Insights into Gut Dysbiosis: Inflammatory Diseases, Obesity, and Restoration Approaches

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