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Gut Microbial Profile in Asymptomatic Gallstones
Sen-Tao Song1, Ling-Yan Cai1, Xin Zeng1
1Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Frontiers in Microbiology
|June 30, 2022
Summary
Gut microbiota diversity decreases in asymptomatic gallstone patients, with increased bacterial abundance. These changes are linked to gallstones themselves, not comorbidities like hypertension or obesity.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Microbiology
- Genomics
Background:
- Limited research exists on gut microbiota alterations in gallstone patients, particularly those asymptomatic.
- Previous studies often overlook the influence of metabolic factors on gut microbiota composition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gut microbiota structural differences between asymptomatic gallstone patients and healthy controls.
- To explore the relationship between gallstones, gut microbiota, and metabolic factors.
Main Methods:
- 16S rRNA gene sequencing was employed to analyze gut microbiota composition.
- 30 asymptomatic gallstone patients and 30 matched healthy controls were recruited.
- Subgroup analysis considered comorbidities like hypertension, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and elevated BMI.
Main Results:
- Gallstone patients exhibited significantly increased gut microbiota abundance and decreased diversity compared to controls.
- Firmicutes, Bacteroides, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria dominated both groups at the phylum level.
- Significant differences in 15 bacterial genera were observed; only unclassified Lactobacillales showed variations in specific subgroups.
Conclusions:
- Gut microbiota structure is significantly altered in patients with gallstones.
- These alterations appear primarily associated with the presence of gallstones, independent of metabolic factors such as hypertension, NAFLD, or obesity.
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