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Starving the Gut: A Deficit of Butyrate in the Intestinal Ecosystem of Children With Intestinal Failure
Author(s) -
Dowhaniuk Jenna K.,
Szamosi Jake,
Chorlton Sam,
Owens Jillian,
Mileski Heather,
Clause RoseFrances,
Pernica Jeffrey M.,
Bowdish Dawn M. E.,
Surette Michael G.,
Ratcliffe Elyanne M.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.935
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1941-2444
pISSN - 0148-6071
DOI - 10.1002/jpen.1715
Subject(s) - lachnospiraceae , butyrate , feces , microbiome , biology , intestinal microbiome , gastroenterology , gut flora , microbiology and biotechnology , parenteral nutrition , medicine , immunology , bacteria , food science , 16s ribosomal rna , bioinformatics , firmicutes , genetics , fermentation
Background Intestinal epithelial integrity is influenced by short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and is of critical importance for children with intestinal failure (IF) given the known devastating infectious and gastrointestinal complications. The composition of the microbiome in IF represents an important variable in the physiology and prognosis of this disease. Aim We sought to compare the intestinal microbiome and SCFA concentration of children who require parenteral nutrition (PN) with that of children with short‐bowel syndrome (SBS) who have discontinued PN and with age‐matched controls, using high‐throughput sequencing to investigate host‐microbe interactions. Methods Fifty‐three samples were submitted over 6–15 months. Six children with SBS + IF submitted 34 samples, and 6 children with SBS with discontinued PN submitted 15 samples; these were compared with samples from 5 control children. Fecal samples were analyzed by 16S ribosomal RNA partial gene sequencing using the MiSeq Illumina sequencer. SCFAs were measured in stool samples by mass spectrometry. Results Butyrate quantity was near absent in children with IF compared with that in controls (median 0.37 nmol/mg vs 10.92 nmol/mg; P < .0001). Similarly, commensal anaerobes known to produce SCFA, including Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae, were reduced in those with SBS. SBS + IF enteric samples demonstrated a 168‐fold increase in the relative abundance of the Escherichia genus seemingly attributable to the species Escherichia coli . Conclusion The reduced relative abundance of butyrate‐producing Clostridia as well as decreased intestinal butyrate concentration in children with IF support further investigation in therapeutic options that target butyrate‐producing bacterial communities or butyrate supplementation.