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Gut microbiota trajectory in early life may predict development of celiac disease
Marta Olivares1, Alan W Walker2,3, Amalia Capilla4,5
1Microbial Ecology, Nutrition and Health Research Unit, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), C/Catedrático Agustín Escardino, 7. 46980, Paterna, Valencia, Spain. m.olivares@iata.csic.es.
Insights
Early gut microbiota changes in high-risk infants may precede celiac disease (CD) onset. Healthy infants showed increased bacterial diversity, unlike those who developed CD, suggesting altered microbial trajectories influence immune development.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
- Microbiome Research
Background:
- Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten ingestion.
- Infants with a family history of CD are at higher risk.
- Understanding early risk factors is crucial for prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if changes in infant gut microbiota and immune markers precede celiac disease (CD) onset.
- To identify microbial and immunological signatures associated with CD development in high-risk infants.
Main Methods:
- Nested case-control study within a prospective cohort of newborns with familial CD risk.
- Fecal microbiota analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing at 4 and 6 months.
- Immune parameters, including sIgA and TNF-α, measured and correlated with CD onset.
Main Results:
- Healthy infants showed increased gut microbial diversity, unlike those developing CD.
- Infants who developed CD had reduced sIgA levels over time.
- Specific bacterial shifts, including increased Bifidobacterium longum in controls and Bifidobacterium breve/Enterococcus spp. in CD cases, were observed.
Conclusions:
- Early alterations in gut microbiota may influence immune maturation and predispose infants to CD.
- Findings suggest potential early biomarkers for CD risk.
- Larger studies are needed to confirm these associations and inform preventive measures.
Background:
To investigate whether alterations in the developing intestinal microbiota and immune markers precede celiac disease (CD) onset in infants at familial risk of developing the disease.
Methods:
A nested case-control study was carried out as part of a larger prospective cohort study, which included healthy full-term newborns (> 200) with at least one first relative with biopsy-verified CD. The present study includes cases of CD (n = 10) and the best-matched controls (n = 10) who did not develop the disease after 5-year follow-up. Fecal microbiota, assessed by high-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, and immune parameters were profiled at 4 and 6 months of age and related to CD onset.
Results:
The microbiota of infants who remained healthy showed an increase in bacterial diversity over time, characterized by increases in Firmicutes families, but not those who developed CD. Infants who subsequently developed CD showed a significant reduction in sIgA levels over time, while those who remained healthy showed increases in TNF-α correlated to Bifidobacterium spp. An increased relative abundance of Bifidobacterium longum was associated with control children while increased proportions of Bifidobacterium breve and Enterococcus spp. were associated with CD development.
Conclusion:
The findings suggest that alterations in the early trajectory of gut microbiota in infants at CD risk could influence the immune maturation process and predispose to CD, although larger population studies are warranted to confirm this hypothesis.
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