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Gut microbiome changes in anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis patients
Jingya Wei1, Xiao Zhang1, Fang Yang1
1Department of Neurology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 15 Changle West Street, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi province, China.
Background:
Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is a type of autoimmune encephalitis. The underlying mechanism(s) remain largely unknown. Recent evidence has indicated that the gut microbiome may be involved in neurological immune diseases via the "gut-brain axis". This study aimed to explore the possible relationship between anti-NMDAR encephalitis and the gut microbiome.
Methods:
Fecal specimens were collected from 10 patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis and 10 healthy volunteers. The microbiome analysis was based on Illumina sequencing of the V3-V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene. The alpha, beta, and taxonomic diversity analyses were mainly based on the QIIME2 pipeline.
Results:
There were no statistical differences in epidemiology, medication, and clinical characteristics (except for those related to anti-NMDAR encephalitis) between the two groups. ASV analysis showed that Prevotella was significantly increased, while Bacteroides was reduced in the gut microbiota of the patients, compared with the controls. Alpha diversity results showed a decrease in diversity in the patients compared with the healthy controls, analyzed by the Shannon diversity, Simpson diversity, and Pielou_E uniformity based on the Kruskal-Wallis test (P = 0.0342, 0.0040, and 0.0002, respectively). Beta diversity analysis showed that the abundance and composition of the gut microbiota was significantly different between the two groups, analyzed by weighted and unweighted UniFrac distance (P = 0.005 and 0.001, respectively).
Conclusions:
The abundance and evenness of bacterial distribution were significantly lower and jeopardized in patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis than in healthy controls. Thus, our findings suggest that gut microbiome composition changes might be associated with the anti-NMDAR encephalitis. It could be a causal agent, or a consequence.
Insights
Gut microbiome alterations, including reduced diversity and altered Prevotella and Bacteroides abundance, are linked to anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis. These changes may play a role in the autoimmune neurological disease.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Microbiome Research
- Gut-Brain Axis Studies
Background:
- Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is an autoimmune neurological disorder with unknown mechanisms.
- The gut microbiome's role in neurological immune diseases via the gut-brain axis is an emerging area of research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential relationship between anti-NMDAR encephalitis and gut microbiome composition.
- To explore if gut dysbiosis is associated with anti-NMDAR encephalitis.
Main Methods:
- Fecal samples from 10 anti-NMDAR encephalitis patients and 10 healthy controls were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing (V3-V4 region).
- Microbiome diversity (alpha and beta) and taxonomic composition were assessed using the QIIME2 pipeline.
Main Results:
- Patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis exhibited significantly reduced gut microbial diversity (Shannon, Simpson, Pielou_E) compared to healthy controls.
- Significant differences in gut microbiota composition (beta diversity) were observed between patients and controls.
- Specific changes included increased Prevotella and decreased Bacteroides abundance in patients.
Conclusions:
- Gut microbiome dysbiosis, characterized by lower abundance and evenness of bacterial distribution, is associated with anti-NMDAR encephalitis.
- These findings suggest a potential role for gut microbiome alterations in the pathogenesis or progression of anti-NMDAR encephalitis.
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