Role of the Gut-Lung Microbiome Axis in Airway Inflammation in OVA-Challenged Mice and the Effect of Azithromycin

This study aimed to investigate the role of the gut-lung microbiome axis in airway inflammation in asthma and to evaluate the effect of azithromycin on this axis, with a focus on the potential mechanism by which azithromycin reduces allergic airway inflammation.

Haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining were used to assess pathological changes in the lung tissues of asthmatic mice. Leukocyte cell types in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples were quantified following Wright-Giemsa staining. Total IgE, OVA-specific IgE, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-17A levels in BALF and total IgE in serum were measured by ELISA. The respiratory and gut microbiota were analysed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and subsequent taxonomic analysis.

OVA-challenged asthmatic mice with gut microbiota dysbiosis exhibited alterations in the respiratory microbiota, resulting in further aggravation of airway inflammation. Following faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to restore gut microbiota, respiratory microbiota dysbiosis was partially improved, and airway inflammation was significantly alleviated. Furthermore, azithromycin reduced airway inflammation in asthmatic mice, particularly non-eosinophilic inflammation, for which low-dose azithromycin combined with budesonide proved more effective. Azithromycin significantly enhanced the diversity and microbial composition of the gut microbiota and also affected the respiratory microbiota. At the phylum level, azithromycin decreased the abundance of Proteobacteria in the gut microbiota. At the genus level, azithromycin reduced the abundance of Pseudomonas in the respiratory microbiota.

The gut-lung microbiome axis plays a crucial role in airway inflammation in asthma. Azithromycin may reduce airway inflammation in asthma through modulation of the gut-lung microbiome axis.