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Applying Advanced In Vitro Culturing Technology to Study the Human Gut Microbiota
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Applying Advanced In Vitro Culturing Technology to Study the Human Gut Microbiota

Published on: February 15, 2019

Birth-related increase in intracolonic hydrogen gas and nitric oxide as indicator of host-microbial interactions

T Sobko1, M Norman, E Norin

  • 1Centre for Allergy Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Allergy
|February 1, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Early gut bacteria and immune responses in newborns were measured. Hydrogen gas (H2) and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) appeared within 24 hours, while nitric oxide (NO) increased later, indicating gut development and mucosal immune activation.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal immunology
  • Gut microbiome development
  • Host-bacterial interactions

Background:

  • Early-life gut bacterial colonization may influence allergy development.
  • Studied early host-bacterial interactions using measurements of hydrogen gas (H2), fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and nitric oxide (NO).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate early host-bacterial interactions in the infant gut.
  • To monitor the development of gut microbiota and mucosal immune responses in newborns.

Main Methods:

  • A novel minimally invasive technique for repeated measurements of luminal colonic H2 and NO in 32 healthy newborns.
  • Measurements were taken immediately after birth, day 1, days 3-5, 1 month, and 5-6 months postpartum.

Main Results:

  • Colonic H2, NO, and fecal SCFAs were undetectable at birth.
  • H2 and SCFAs appeared within 24 hours and increased over 6 months.
  • Nitric oxide (NO) remained low until 3-5 days postpartum, then increased markedly, with some infants showing levels similar to adults with inflammatory bowel disease.

Conclusions:

  • Intracolonic measurements of H2 and NO can monitor developmental colonization.
  • These measurements may also be useful for assessing mucosal responses in infants.
Abstract

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