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Updated: Jun 16, 2025
Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing
Published on: October 15, 2019
Gut microbiome composition and intestinal immunity in antiphospholipid syndrome patients versus healthy controls
Valérie Lbi Jansen1,2,3, Mark Davids1, Dagmar Jm van Mourik1,2,4
1Department of (Experimental) Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Introduction:
The gut microbiome is recognized as a factor that could potentially contribute to the persistent antibodies of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Gut microbial interventions can both induce and mitigate APS in mice. In human APS patients, anti-beta-2-glycoprotein I (β2GP-1) titers correlate with antibody titers against a gut commensal protein homologous to β2GP-1.
Aim:
To investigate the effect of the intestinal microenvironment on human APS. Methods We cross-sectionally compared intestinal microbiota composition quantified by shotgun sequencing; fecal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bacterial metabolites known to affect autoimmune processes; and fecal calprotectin, an intestinal inflammatory marker, in APS patients and healthy controls.
Results:
Neither alpha nor beta diversity of the gut microbiota differed between APS patients (n = 15) and controls (n = 16) and no taxa were differentially abundant. Moreover, fecal SCFAs and fecal calprotectin, did not differ between the groups.
Conclusion:
Gut microbiome effects on the APS phenotype are likely not driven by bacterial overabundance, SCFA production or intestinal inflammation.
