Cholecystectomy Damages Aging-Associated Intestinal Microbiota Construction

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Microbiology
• Oncology

Background:

• The intestinal microbiome is crucial for human health, impacting physiological balance and metabolism.
• Gallstone disease and cholecystectomy can lead to gut microbial dysbiosis and bile acid metabolism dysfunction.
• This dysfunction increases the risk of colorectal cancer, but microbiota changes post-cholecystectomy are poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the gut microbial composition in patients who underwent cholecystectomy with that of a healthy population.
• To investigate the link between altered gut microbiota, bile acid metabolism, and colorectal cancer risk after cholecystectomy.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of fecal microbiota composition between cholecystectomy patients and healthy controls.
• Identification of specific bacterial taxa associated with cholecystectomy and bile acid metabolism.

Main Results:

• Cholecystectomy was associated with the loss of aging-associated fecal commensal microbiota.
• Specific bile acid metabolism-related bacteria were identified as potential contributors to colorectal cancer incidence.
• The absence of bacteria, such as *Bacteroides*, correlated with elevated secondary bile acids.

Conclusions:

• Cholecystectomy significantly alters the gut microbiota, leading to the loss of beneficial aging-associated bacteria.
• Reduced levels of certain bacteria, like *Bacteroides*, may drive colorectal cancer development in post-cholecystectomy patients due to altered bile acid metabolism.
• These findings offer new insights into the relationship between cholecystectomy-induced gut dysbiosis and colorectal cancer, aiding in diagnosis and management.