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Sex is associated with differences in gut microbial composition and function in hepatic encephalopathy.
Krishnakant Saboo1, Amirhossein Shamsaddini2, Mihir V Iyer1
1Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
Journal of Hepatology
|July 18, 2020
Summary
Sex impacts the gut microbiome in cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Microbial composition differs between men and women, potentially influencing HE treatment responses.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology
- Microbiome Research
- Sex Differences in Disease
Background:
- Altered gut microbiota is linked to the gut-liver-brain axis in cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy (HE).
- The influence of sex on these microbiota alterations in cirrhosis and HE remains largely undetermined.
- Understanding sex-specific microbial changes is crucial for personalized treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sex-based differences in fecal microbiota composition and functionality in individuals with cirrhosis and HE.
- To compare microbiota profiles between men and women across different stages of liver disease and HE treatment regimens.
- To explore the potential impact of these sex-specific microbial variations on HE pathogenesis and therapeutic responses.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study analyzing fecal microbiome composition using 16S rRNA sequencing.
- Microbial functional analyses were conducted on samples from men and women with cirrhosis and controls.
- Patients included those with HE on rifaximin+lactulose (HE-Rif), lactulose only (HE-Lac), and cirrhosis without HE (No-HE), compared to controls.
Main Results:
- Microbiota composition and function differed significantly between men and women with cirrhosis, particularly in No-HE and HE-Lac groups.
- Disease progression led to decreased autochthonous taxa and increased pathobionts in both sexes.
- Specific microbial pathways related to glutamate and aromatic compound degradation were higher in men, while androstenedione degradation was lower in men with HE-Rif.
Conclusions:
- Significant sex-based differences exist in the gut microbial landscape of patients with cirrhosis and HE.
- These sex-specific microbial alterations may contribute to differential responses to HE therapies.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the clinical implications of these sex differences on patient outcomes.
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