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Microbiota-immune alterations in adolescents following early life adversity: A proof of concept study
Brie M Reid1, Rachael Horne2, Bonny Donzella1
1Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Insights
Early life adversity impacts health via the gut microbiome. This study found differences in gut bacteria in internationally adopted adolescents, linking early rearing to immune system changes.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Early adverse care significantly impacts long-term physical and mental health.
- The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in infant development, metabolism, and gut-brain signaling, influencing resilience.
- Understanding the microbiome's role in early adversity is vital for developmental health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between early rearing conditions and the gut microbiota composition in adolescents.
- To explore associations between gut microbial differences, immune cell subsets, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) seropositivity.
Main Methods:
- 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of fecal samples to analyze microbial diversity and composition.
- Comparative analysis between adolescents adopted internationally from orphanages and those reared in birth families.
- Immunophenotyping of blood samples for T-cell subsets and CMV seropositivity.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified based on early rearing conditions and CMV seropositivity.
- Specific bacterial taxa abundances were significantly associated with T-cell subset percentages and CMV seropositivity.
- Findings suggest a link between gut microbiota alterations and immune changes stemming from early life adversity.
Conclusions:
- Early life adversity, particularly institutional rearing, is associated with distinct gut microbiota profiles in adolescents.
- The gut microbiome may mediate the relationship between early adversity and subsequent immune system alterations.
- These findings highlight the gut microbiota as a potential target for interventions aimed at mitigating the health consequences of early life adversity.
Abstract:
Early adverse care has long-term impacts on physical and mental health. The influence of rearing conditions on the infant's gut microbiota and its relationship with developmental health has become more evident. The microbiome is essential for normal growth and metabolism, and the signaling from the gut to the brain may underlie individual differences in resilience later in life. Microbial diversity and composition were determined using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing in fecal samples from 17 adolescents adopted internationally from orphanages into the United States and 18 adolescents reared in birth families who had similar educational and income levels. Analyses focused on diversity of the microbial community structure and differences in the abundance of specific bacterial taxa. Blood samples were used to immunophenotype the numbers of several T-cell subsets and cytomegalovirus (CMV) seropositivity. Negative binomial regression analysis revealed several operational taxonomic units that were significantly different based on early rearing conditions and CMV seropositivity. There were significant associations between the relative abundance of certain taxa, the percentages of T-cell subsets in circulation, and CMV seropositivity. These findings demonstrate a possible link between the gut microbiota and associations with immune alterations initiated by early life adversity.
