Open AccessGut inflammation and dysbiosis in human motor neuron disease
Author(s) -
Rowin Julie,
Xia Yinglin,
Jung Barbara,
Sun Jun
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
physiological reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 39
ISSN - 2051-817X
DOI - 10.14814/phy2.13443
Subject(s) - dysbiosis , firmicutes , microbiome , gut flora , inflammation , amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , immunology , disease , medicine , bacteroidetes , ruminococcus , biology , pathology , bioinformatics , bacteria , genetics , 16s ribosomal rna
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ( ALS ) is a systemic disorder that involves dysfunction of multiple organs. Growing evidence has shown that neurodegenerative disorders with gut dysbiosis affect the central nervous system via pro‐inflammatory mediators thus impacting gut‐brain communications. We have demonstrated dysbiosis and increased intestinal permeability in the SOD 1 G93A ALS mouse model. In this study, we comprehensively examined the human gut microbiome in stool samples and evaluated infection and markers of intestinal inflammation in five patients with ALS and motor neuron disorders. Five patients we studied all had alteration in their gut microbiome characterized by a low diversity of the microbiome, compared to healthy cohorts with relatively intact abundance. Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes are the two major members of bacteria at the phylum level. Low Ruminococcus spp . occurred in three patients with low Firmicutes / Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio. A majority of patients had signs of intestinal inflammation. This is the first comprehensive examination of inflammatory markers in the stool of ALS patients. Studies in gut health and microbiome related to the onset and progression of ALS may reveal novel therapeutic targets for disease modulation.