Gut microbial profiles of patients with optic neuritis or myasthenia gravis

Area of Science:

• Microbiome research
• Neuroimmunology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in immune system regulation.
• Alterations in gut microbial composition have been linked to various autoimmune and neurological conditions.
• Optic neuritis (ON) and myasthenia gravis (MG) are immune-mediated disorders with potential gut-brain axis involvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and characterize the gut microbial composition in patients diagnosed with ON or MG.
• To compare the gut microbiota profiles of ON and MG patients with those of healthy controls.
• To identify specific microbial taxa associated with ON and MG.

Main Methods:

• Stool samples were collected from 45 ON patients, 13 MG patients, and 20 healthy controls.
• Bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing (V3-V4 regions) was performed on extracted microbial DNA.
• Bioinformatic analyses, including diversity metrics and LEfSe, were employed to compare microbial communities.

Main Results:

• Distinct clustering of gut microbiota was observed between patient groups and healthy controls.
• Key phyla (Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria) showed varied proportions across groups.
• Patients with ON and MG displayed reduced abundances of beneficial probiotics such as Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, and Roseburia.

Conclusions:

• Significant alterations in gut microbial composition are evident in patients with ON and MG.
• A notable reduction in key intestinal probiotics is a characteristic finding in these patient groups.
• These findings highlight the potential role of the gut microbiota in the pathogenesis or progression of ON and MG.