Profiling gut microbiome dynamics in subacute thyroiditis: Implications for pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Endocrinology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Subacute thyroiditis (SAT) is an inflammatory thyroid condition with an unknown etiology.
• The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in immune system regulation and has been implicated in various autoimmune diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize gut microbiome alterations in newly diagnosed SAT patients.
• To identify microbial signatures associated with SAT and its treatment response.

Main Methods:

• 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing of fecal samples from 20 SAT patients and 20 healthy controls.
• Bioinformatics analysis of microbial alpha/beta diversity, taxonomic composition, and differential abundance.
• Investigation of correlations between gut microbiome and clinical parameters.

Main Results:

• SAT patients showed altered gut microbiota with increased Escherichia-Shigella, Bifidobacterium, Akkermansia, Veillonella, and Streptococcus.
• Decreased abundance of Bacteroidetes, Faecalibacterium, Prevotella, Roseburia, and Ruminococcus was observed in SAT patients.
• Prednisolone treatment partially normalized the gut microbiota, with Lactobacillus, Lactobacillaceae, Lactobacillus reuteri, and Prevotella identified as post-treatment biomarkers.

Conclusions:

• SAT is associated with distinct gut microbiome alterations.
• These alterations are partially reversible with prednisolone treatment.
• The gut microbiome may play a role in SAT pathogenesis and treatment response.