Exploring the physiological link of breath N₂O through nitrification and denitrification processes in human gastric...

Over the past several decades, it has been generally believed that microbial nitrification and denitrification are not significant processes in the human gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, the underlying physiological link between exhaled nitrous oxide (N₂O) and aerobic denitrification in the gastric environment is still largely unknown. In this report, we provide direct experimental evidence of the aerobic denitrification process in the human gastrointestinal tract by evaluating concentrations of dissolved N₂O and its precursor nitrite ([Formula: see text]) ion in the gastric juice along with exhaled N₂O concentration using a high-precision laser spectroscopy technique. Moreover, in vitro studies of gastric fluid in patients reveal a new mechanism of nitrification of ammonium ion ([Formula: see text]) followed by denitrification of [Formula: see text] leading to the formation of N₂O in the gastric environment, which is eventually excreted in exhaled breath. This observation was subsequently validated under in vivo physiological conditions exploiting the urease activity of the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori. Consequently, our findings established a strong physiological link between exhaled N₂O and bacterial infection in the stomach. This deepens our understanding of the unusual microbial denitrification in the gastric environment, providing new insight into the activities of human-associated microorganisms, which eventually affect the human physiology and health.