Gut microbiome changes in anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis patients

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High-throughput Flow Cytometry Cell-based Assay to Detect Antibodies to N-Methyl-D-aspartate Receptor or Dopamine-2 Receptor in Human Serum

Published on: November 23, 2013

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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.

BMC Neurology
|July 25, 2022
PubMed
Abstract

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.
Keywords:
Anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor EncephalitisEncephalitisGastrointestinal MicrobiomeGut-brain axis

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