Gut-lung axis perturbation and Bifidobacterium potential after spinal cord injury in humans and mice

Area of Science:

• Microbiome research
• Immunology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Spinal cord injury (SCI) frequently leads to severe respiratory complications.
• The gut-lung axis, a bidirectional communication pathway, is crucial for maintaining homeostasis.
• Dysbiosis in the gut microbiome is increasingly recognized as a factor in systemic inflammation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of gut-lung axis perturbation in respiratory complications following SCI.
• To identify microbial mechanisms linking SCI to pulmonary inflammation.
• To evaluate the therapeutic potential of modulating the gut microbiome.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a mouse model of SCI alongside clinical observations.
• Analyzed gut and lung microbial communities using sequencing techniques.
• Performed fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) experiments.
• Administered oral Bifidobacterium supplementation and challenged with Escherichia coli.

Main Results:

• SCI induced significant convergence between gut and lung microbial communities, indicating disrupted compartmentalization.
• FMT from SCI donors replicated this microbial convergence in healthy recipients.
• Oral Bifidobacterium supplementation restored gut microbial structure, reduced gut-lung microbial similarity, and attenuated pulmonary inflammation.

Conclusions:

• SCI disrupts the integrity of the gut-lung axis, promoting microbial cross-contamination.
• Targeting the gut microbiome, specifically by augmenting beneficial taxa like Bifidobacterium, can mitigate pulmonary inflammation post-SCI.
• Microbiota-based strategies represent a promising avenue for reducing respiratory risks associated with spinal cord injury.