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Fecal Microbiome Distinguishes Alcohol Consumption From Alcoholic Hepatitis But Does Not Discriminate Disease Severity
Author(s) -
Smirnova Ekaterina,
Puri Puneet,
Muthiah Mark D.,
Daitya Kalyani,
Brown Robert,
Chalasani Naga,
Liangpunsakul Suthat,
Shah Vijay H.,
Gelow Kayla,
Siddiqui Mohammed S.,
Boyett Sherry,
Mirshahi Faridoddin,
Sikaroodi Masoumeh,
Gillevet Patrick,
Sanyal Arun J.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.31178
Subject(s) - lachnospiraceae , firmicutes , alcoholic hepatitis , bacteroidetes , microbiome , feces , alcoholic liver disease , metagenomics , biology , medicine , proteobacteria , microbiology and biotechnology , zoology , gastroenterology , cirrhosis , biochemistry , bacteria , bioinformatics , genetics , 16s ribosomal rna , gene
Background and Aims The role of the intestinal microbiome in alcoholic hepatitis is not established. The aims of this study were to (1) characterize the fecal microbial ecology associated with alcoholic hepatitis, (2) relate microbiome changes to disease severity, and (3) infer the functional relevance of shifts in microbial ecology. Approach and Results The fecal microbiome in patients with moderate alcoholic hepatitis (MAH) or severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH) was compared with healthy controls (HCs) and heavy drinking controls (HDCs). Microbial taxa were identified by 16S pyrosequencing. Functional metagenomics was performed using PICRUSt. Fecal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were measured using a liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry platform. A total of 78 participants (HC, n = 24; HDC, n = 20; MAH, n = 10; SAH, n = 24) were studied. HDC had a distinct signature compared with HC with depletion of Bacteroidetes (46% vs. 26%; P = 0.01). Alcoholic hepatitis was associated with a distinct microbiome signature compared with HDC (area under the curve = 0.826); differential abundance of Ruminococcaceae , Veillonellaceae , Lachnospiraceae , Porphyromonadaceae , and Rikenellaceae families were the key contributors to these differences. The beta diversity was significantly different among the groups (permutational multivariate analysis of variance [PERMANOVA] P < 0.001). SAH was associated with increased Proteobacteria (SAH 14% vs. HDC 7% and SAH vs. HC 2%, P = 0.20 and 0.01, respectively). Firmicutes abundance declined from HDC to MAH to SAH (63% vs. 53% vs. 48%, respectively; P = 0.09, HDC vs. SAH). Microbial taxa did not distinguish between MAH and SAH (PERMANOVA P = 0.785). SCFAs producing bacteria (Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae) were decreased in alcoholic hepatitis, and a similar decrease was observed in fecal SCFAs among alcoholic hepatitis patients. Conclusions There are distinct changes in fecal microbiome associated with the development, but not severity, of alcoholic hepatitis.