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Elevated plasma phage load as a marker for intestinal permeability in leukemic patients
Xue-Rui Yin1, Ping Liu1,2, Xi Xu1
1The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China.
Abstract:
Microbial translocation (MT) and altered gut microbiota have been described in acute leukemic patients and contribute to immune activation and inflammation. However, phage translocation has not been investigated in leukemia patients yet. We recruited 44 leukemic patients and 52 healthy adults and quantified the levels of 3 phages in peripheral blood, which were the most positive phages screened from fecal samples. The content of 16S rRNA in plasma was detected by qPCR to assess the intestinal mucosa of these patients. Spearman's rank correlation was used to analyze the relationship between phage load and the relevant clinical data. We found the most prevalent phages in fecal samples were λ phage, Wphi phage, and P22 phage, and λ phage had the highest detection rate in plasma (68%). Phage content was affected by chemotherapy and course of disease and correlated with the levels of CRP (r = 0.43, p = 0.003), sCD14 (r = 0.37, p = 0.014), and sCD163 (r = 0.44, p = 0.003). Our data indicate that plasma phage load is a promising marker for gut barrier damage and that gut phage translocation correlates with monocyte/macrophage activation and systemic inflammatory response in leukemic patients.
Insights
Phage translocation, previously unstudied in leukemia, was investigated. Elevated plasma phage levels in leukemia patients indicate gut barrier damage and correlate with inflammation and immune cell activation.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Oncology
Background:
- Microbial translocation and gut dysbiosis are known in acute leukemia, contributing to immune activation.
- Phage translocation has not been previously studied in leukemia patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate phage translocation in acute leukemia patients.
- To assess the correlation between phage load, gut barrier integrity, and systemic inflammation.
Main Methods:
- Quantified levels of three prevalent phages (λ, Wphi, P22) in plasma of 44 leukemia patients and 52 healthy adults.
- Assessed intestinal mucosa integrity via plasma 16S rRNA content using qPCR.
- Analyzed correlations between phage load and clinical data, including CRP, sCD14, and sCD163 levels.
Main Results:
- λ phage showed the highest detection rate (68%) in plasma.
- Plasma phage load was influenced by chemotherapy and disease progression.
- Phage load positively correlated with CRP, sCD14, and sCD163 levels.
Conclusions:
- Plasma phage load serves as a potential biomarker for gut barrier damage in leukemia.
- Gut phage translocation is linked to monocyte/macrophage activation and systemic inflammation in leukemic patients.
