Impact of Biometric Patient Data, Probiotic Supplementation, and Selected Gut Microorganisms on Calprotectin, Zonulin, and sIgA Concentrations in the Stool of Adults Aged 18-74 Years

A Novel Microbial Dysbiosis Index and Intestinal Microbiota-Associated Markers as Tools of Precision Medicine in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Paediatric Patients

Recent evidence indicates that the gut microbiota (GM) has a significant impact on the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) progression. Our aim was to investigate the GM profiles, the Microbial Dysbiosis Index (MDI) and the intestinal microbiota-associated markers in relation to IBD clinical characteristics and disease state. We performed 16S rRNA metataxonomy on both stools and ileal biopsies, metabolic dysbiosis tests on urine and intestinal permeability and mucosal immunity activation tests on the stools of 35 IBD paediatric patients. On the GM profile, we assigned the MDI to each patient. In the statistical analyses, the MDI was correlated with clinical parameters and intestinal microbial-associated markers. In IBD patients with high MDI, Gemellaceae and Enterobacteriaceae were increased in stools, and Fusobacterium, Haemophilus and Veillonella were increased in ileal biopsies. Ruminococcaceae and WAL_1855D were enriched in active disease condition; the last one was also positively correlated to MDI. Furthermore, the MDI results correlated with PUCAI and Matts scores in ulcerative colitis patients (UC). Finally, in our patients, we detected metabolic dysbiosis, intestinal permeability and mucosal immunity activation. In conclusion, the MDI showed a strong association with both severity and activity of IBD and a positive correlation with clinical scores, especially in UC. Thus, this evidence could be a useful tool for the diagnosis and prognosis of IBD.

Association of intestinal inflammation and permeability markers with clinical manifestations of Parkinson's disease

INTRODUCTION

Intestinal inflammation and gut microbiota dysbiosis can stimulate degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and development of Parkinson's disease (PD) via the gut-brain axis in certain patients.

METHODS

In a case-control study, fecal markers of intestinal inflammation and permeability were measured using the ELISA method in PD patients and healthy controls. Motor and nonmotor symptoms were assessed using the Movement Disorder Society (MDS) Unified PD Rating Scale, Hoehn & Yahr scale, MDS Non-Motor Symptom Scale, Scales for Outcomes in PD - Autonomic Dysfunction, PD Sleep Scale - 2, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory-II. A correlation was established between the intestinal inflammation and permeability markers and PD symptoms.

RESULTS

Higher levels of beta-defensin 2, zonulin and lactoferrin were recorded in PD patients compared to controls. Calprotectin and secretory immunoglobulin A showed no significant differences. Regression analysis indicated the roles of beta-defensin 2 and lactoferrin in predicting PD likelihood. Calprotectin yielded positive correlations with disease duration, depression, motor fluctuations, and gastrointestinal symptoms; beta defensin 2 with thermoregulation; and secretory immunoglobulin A with depression. Secretory immunoglobulin A showed negative correlation with age and age at disease onset, while zonulin showed negative correlation with the MDS Unified PD Rating Scale total score.

CONCLUSIONS

Fecal markers differed in PD patients compared to controls and correlated with age, disease duration, and some nonmotor symptoms. Future studies should identify the subgroups of PD patients that are likely to develop intestinal inflammation.

Fecal virus transplantation has more moderate effect than fecal microbiota transplantation on changing gut microbial structure in broiler chickens

Growing evidence of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and fecal virus transplantation (FVT) provides a possibility to regulate animal health, whereas little is known about the impact of the 2 methods. This study aimed to investigate the effects of gut microbes on jejunal function in healthy broiler chickens, with the objective of establishing a theoretical basis for the application of FMT and FVT. Cecal feces from 28-day-old AA broilers were collected to prepare gavage juice for FMT and FVT. FMT for Group FM, FVT for group FV and PBS gavage for group CON, continuously treated for 6 days start at 5-day-old chicks. Samples were collected at d 11 and d 21. The results showed that the treatment d 2 and the overall fecal score in treatment groups were significantly lower than CON group (P < 0.05). The jejunum morphology showed that FMT increased crypt depth, decreased villus height, V/C (P < 0.05) and FVT increased villus height (P < 0.05) at d 11. At d 21, villus height and crypt depth significantly higher (P < 0.05) in group FM and group FV. The expression of Claudin1, Occludin, ZO2, and Muc2 in the FV group was significantly increased (P < 0.05) at 11-day-old. FMT increased the secretion of sIgA at 11-day-old, and this influence lasted up to 21-day-old (P < 0.05). At 11-day-old, the expression of b0+AT of basic amino acid transport carrier and chymotrypsin activity (P < 0.05) had a significant correlation. At 21 d of age, FVT significantly increased the expression of PepT1 and SGLT1 (P < 0.05). At 11-day-old, FM group showed significantly higher faith pd index (P = 0.004) and Shannon index (P = 0.037), and separated from FV and CON according to PCoA. Among differentiating bacteria, Bacteroides significantly enriched (P < 0.05) in group FM, which positively correlated with the expression of ZO2, Muc2, Occludin, and Claudin1; R_Ruminococcus, L_Ruminococcus, Butyricicoccuss significantly enriched (P < 0.05) in group CON, which significantly higher than processing groups, R_Ruminococcus and L_Ruminococcus negatively correlated with the expression of Occludin (P < 0.05), and R_Ruminococcus, Butyricicoccus negatively correlated with the expression of Claudin1 (P < 0.05). At 21-day-old, PCoA based on Bray-Curtis shows that microbes taxa of 3 groups are isolated with each other and treatment groups were significant different with CON group based on Unweighted UniFrac and weighted UniFrac. The expression of PepT1 was significantly negatively (P < 0.05) correlated with Ruminococcus, and the expression of sIgA was significantly negatively (P < 0.05) correlated with Parabacteroides. In conclusion, FMT regulated intestinal flora rapidly, while it had little effect on intestinal function and a higher potential damaging risk on jejunal. FVT regulated intestinal flora structure softer, improved tight junction expression, but the mechanism of action needs further exploration.

Zonulin as a Potential Therapeutic Target in Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis Disorders: Encouraging Results and Emerging Questions

The relationship between dysbiosis and central nervous diseases has been proved in the last 10 years. Microbial alterations cause increased intestinal permeability, and the penetration of bacterial fragment and toxins induces local and systemic inflammatory processes, affecting distant organs, including the brain. Therefore, the integrity of the intestinal epithelial barrier plays a central role in the microbiota-gut-brain axis. In this review, we discuss recent findings on zonulin, an important tight junction regulator of intestinal epithelial cells, which is assumed to play a key role in maintaining of the blood-brain barrier function. In addition to focusing on the effect of microbiome on intestinal zonulin release, we also summarize potential pharmaceutical approaches to modulate zonulin-associated pathways with larazotide acetate and other zonulin receptor agonists or antagonists. The present review also addresses the emerging issues, including the use of misleading nomenclature or the unsolved questions about the exact protein sequence of zonulin.