Intestinal microbiota changes in Graves' disease: a prospective clinical study

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Microbiology
• Immunology

Background:

• Graves' disease (GD) is an autoimmune disorder causing hyperthyroidism.
• Autoimmune conditions are often linked to changes in gut microbial composition.
• The relationship between GD and intestinal microbiota alterations requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate changes in intestinal flora composition and diversity in patients with Graves' disease.
• To compare the gut microbiota of GD patients with that of healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• Fecal samples were collected from 39 GD patients and 17 healthy controls.
• 16S rRNA sequencing on the Illumina Hiseq2500 platform was used to analyze microbial diversity and composition.
• High-throughput sequencing identified specific bacterial strains present in GD patients versus controls.

Main Results:

• GD patients showed a significant decrease in overall intestinal microbial diversity compared to healthy controls.
• Specific bacterial strains, including Bacilli, Lactobacillales, Prevotella, Megamonas, and Veillonella, were increased in GD patients.
• Conversely, Ruminococcus, Rikenellaceae, and Alistipes strains were decreased in GD patients.

Conclusions:

• Intestinal microbiota diversity is significantly reduced in patients with Graves' disease.
• Graves' disease is associated with substantial alterations in intestinal flora composition.
• These findings provide a basis for further research into the gut microbiota-GD interaction mechanism.