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A pregnancy complication-dependent change in SIgA-targeted microbiota during third trimester
Mengjun Cui1, Ce Qi2, Liping Yang3
1School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, PR China. miaott1986@163.com sunj@jiangnan.edu.cn and Changzhou Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China.
Food & Function
|January 30, 2020
Summary
Pregnancy complications are linked to gut microbiota changes and intestinal barrier injury. Specific gut bacteria like Enterococcus may be beneficial, and Lactobacillus reuteri shows potential as a probiotic to prevent these issues.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Gastroenterology
- Obstetrics
Background:
- Gut microbiota significantly influences metabolic health during pregnancy.
- Probiotics may offer a strategy to prevent pregnancy-related metabolic dysfunction.
- Understanding gut microbiota composition in healthy versus complicated pregnancies is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare gut microbiota composition in healthy and complicated pregnancies.
- To identify potential probiotic candidates from healthy pregnancy microbiota.
- To investigate the link between gut microbiota, intestinal barrier integrity, and inflammation in pregnancy.
Main Methods:
- Principal component analysis of secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA)-coated gut microbiota.
- Categorization of third-trimester volunteers into asymptomatic healthy donors (AHd), gestational diabetes mellitus (GDMd), and gestational hypertension (GHd) groups.
- Analysis of microbial diversity (α and β), taxonomic composition (phylum and genus levels), and biomarkers of intestinal barrier injury (faecal calprotectin, serum lipopolysaccharide, zonulin, GLYCAM-1).
Main Results:
- Significant differences in gut microbiota β-diversity (p < 0.01) and α-diversity (p < 0.05) were observed among the three groups.
- The GHd group showed lower Firmicutes and higher Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria compared to the AHd group.
- SIgA-targeted Enterococcus was a biomarker for AHd, while Escherichia and Streptococcus dominated the GHd group. GDMd and GHd groups exhibited elevated markers of intestinal barrier injury and inflammation.
Conclusions:
- Third-trimester pregnancy complications are associated with intestinal barrier injury and altered SIgA-targeted gut microbiota.
- Gut barrier injury appears to trigger inflammation in pregnant women.
- SIgA-targeted Lactobacillus reuteri demonstrated a correlation with reduced inflammatory responses, suggesting its potential as a probiotic for preventing pregnancy complications.
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