Researchers have developed a method to identify which human gut microbes activate immune cells

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Cedars-Sinai investigators have developed a method to help identify which human gut microbes are most likely to contribute to a slew of inflammatory diseases like obesity, liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer and some neurological diseases.

The technique, described in the peer-reviewed journal Science Translational Medicine, uses a protein found in blood that detects the gut microbes that have crossed the gut barrier and activated immune cells throughout the body—a development that could lead to new treatments that target inflammatory gut microbes.

“Microbes crossing the gut barrier usually causes inflammation and activation of the immune system, which are key features of many inflammatory diseases,” said Ivan Vujkovic-Cvijin, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Gastroenterology at Cedars-Sinai and senior author of the study. “By understanding which specific microbes are crossing the gut and causing inflammation in a disease, we then can devise methods to get rid of those microbes to stop the disease.”

While the gut microbiome is thought to play an important role in diseases that are driven by immune over-activation, many of these diseases involve organs beyond the gut. Currently, there are limited tools to identify which gut microbes have crossed the gut barrier and activated immune cells outside of the gastrointestinal tract.

To devise a more accurate method, investigators at Cedars-Sinai and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases used human serum, the fluid found in blood that contains all the antibodies of an individual, to quantify immune responses against gut microbes.

Using human serum allows researchers to understand the total body immune responses to all gut microbes, which helps give researchers a better understanding whether specific microbes are eliciting immune activation in these diseases.

The team used high throughput sequencing to calculate an IgG score, which is used to measure how much antibody there is against each gut microbe.

“Bacteria can migrate out of the gut into other tissues with pleiotropic effects we have yet to fully understand,” said Suzanne Devkota, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Cedars-Sinai Division of Gastroenterology and co-author of the study. “Therefore, we need new ways to assess translocation non-invasively.”

When applying this technique to inflammatory bowel disease, researchers found several bacteria that were targeted by the immune system when compared to healthy controls. This included several gut bacteria in the Collinsella, Bifidobacterium, Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae.

“Many of the bacteria we identified haven’t been thought of as potential causative drivers of this disease,” Vujkovic-Cvijin said. “This microbial activity is likely relevant to disease progression and may represent a viable therapeutic target.”

The team plans to continue to follow up on the observations from the study to learn more about the mechanisms of the specific gut bacteria that were identified as potential targets.


Modulation of the microbiome profile to regulate the inflammatory response

During the pandemic, working from home resulted in changes in food intake and physical activity. According to research by Brancaccio et al (48), participation in physical activity decreased during the pandemic. However, since physical activity has several beneficial effects, certain individuals performed exercises by utilizing internet-based platforms, such as social media (48). Physical activity can help alter the composition of the gut microbiota (48).

Quiroga et al (49) reported that in obese children who were physically active, changes in the microbiome significantly reduced Proteobacteria levels, which tended to be similar to those found in healthy children. In addition, there is an interaction between the microbiota and host cell immunity (49). Toll-like and Nod-like receptor are signaling pathways responsible for a state of low-grade inflammation, and their expression levels are increased during physical exercise and obesity (49).

Exercise can affect the gut integrity and the composition of gut microbiota in the host. In a study by Campbell et al (50), comparisons between groups of animals showed the presence of a diverse range of gut microbiota (50). However, Clostridiales dominated the fecal microbiota present in all animal groups. Faecalibacterium prausnitzii was detected only in animals who exercised, whereas animals with typical diets without exercise, had large clusters of Lachnospiraceae spp., which were not present in animals fed high-fat diets. Allobaculum spp. and Clostridium spp. were found in animals with regular diets who exercised, whereas animals fed high-fat diets had microbial groups associated with Peptococcus spp (50).

In addition, a study of rugby athletes by Clarke et al (51) showed significant differences between the athletes and control group. The athletes had higher taxa microbiota: 22 phyla, 68 families and 113 genera. Exercise and protein intake increased gut microbiota diversity in the athletes. Firmicutes and Ruminococcaceae were abundantly present, whereas Bacteroidetes were less abundant in the athletes (51).

During exercise, TNF receptors gradually produce TNF-α inhibitors, the levels of which increase during and after exercise. Similarly, IL-1 receptor antagonists are produced during exercise and remain elevated post-exercise (52). Physical exercise acts as a modulator of the immune system as it can increase pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and secular lymphocytes, and IFN-I can promote macrophage and lymphocyte activity. Suppression of the IFN-I response has been noted in COVID-19. In addition, severe COVID-19 infections have been associated with a pro-inflammatory cytokine storm, lymphopenia, circulatory changes and viral spread to other organs (53).

Nutrition Probiotics
Probiotics are non-pathogenic microbes that are beneficial to humans. The most common species are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, which are present in several fermented foods (54,55). Probiotics provide protection as they have a low disease activity index and cause considerably little histopathological damage in the large intestine. In addition, probiotics are more effective in modulating the host immune response, as they decrease IL-1β and IL-6 levels and increase the expression of TGF-β and IL-10(56). Consumption of Lactobacillus reuteri V3401 can reduce IL-6 and sVCAM levels (57). Probiotics have been reported to increase the levels of IFN-I and the number and activity of antigen-presenting cells, natural killer cells and T-cells, as well as systemic and mucosa-specific antibodies in the lungs. Clinical evidence indicates that modulation of the gut microbiota can positively influence COVID-19 disease progression (58).

Fermented milk and yogurt are the most common consumed forms of probiotics. In a study by McNulty et al (59), probiotic bacterial strains were shown to affect the gut microbiota. There were no significant changes in the bacterial composition or representation of gene-encoding enzymes after consuming fermented milk (59). However, the results of fecal sample sequencing and urine metabolite spectrometry showed significant changes in the expression of microbiome-encoded enzymes involved in various metabolic pathways, the most prominent of which were related to carbohydrate metabolism.

Bacterial strains present in fermented milk or yogurt were not associated with the abundance of these phyla microbiota in the gut. There were differences in Bifidobacterium strains in individuals who consumed fermented milk mixed with probiotic strains and Bifidobacterium probiotics compared to Lactobacillus-fermented milk. Fermented probiotic milk and yogurt intake were associated with the levels of ingested bacteria (60). The composition of different bacteria in probiotic products can affect the environment of the gut microbiota, and the interaction between the gut microbiota and host will provide protection against viral infections. Probiotics provide protection, treatment and prevention of illness in the digestive system.

Prebiotics
Consumption of prebiotics is a dietary strategy that can modify the GI microbiota for health benefits (61). Prebiotics are substrates selectively utilized by host microorganisms that confer a health benefit. Prebiotics enhance the growth of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli, which have beneficial effects on system-wide metabolism and physiology. Prebiotics are predominantly carbohydrate-based, but other substances, such as polyphenols and polyunsaturated fatty acids, may exert prebiotic effects. Bacteroides, one of the microbiome genera, can break down high molecular weight polysaccharides (62).

Prebiotics are fibers that cannot be digested by the host but are metabolized by the colonic microbiome, resulting in the growth of certain bacteria. Intervention with prebiotics, probiotics, or synbiotics is important, as it can alter the composition of gut microbiota in the GI tract. This is essential for the development of appropriate immune regulatory networks, which influences disease risk later in life (63). Dietary consumption of certain food products can result in significant changes in the gut microbiota composition. The change in Bifidobacteria may be attributed to prebiotics (64). The concept of prebiotics is based on increasing the presence of beneficial microorganisms in the gut microbiota, such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli. Since the diversity of the gut microbiota has expanded, there may be other potential beneficial genera, such as Roseburia, Eubacterium, Faecalibacterium, Akkermansia, Christensenella and Propionibacteria (58). Prebiotics, probiotics, fermented foods and synbiotics can modulate the gut and extend its benefits to distant sites, such as the respiratory tract (65).

Vitamins
COVID-19 is associated with vitamin D deficiency. The rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection was significantly lower in vitamin D-deficient patients supplemented with cholecalciferol than those without supplementation (66). According to Robles-Vera et al (67), the abundance of Prevotella and Actinomyces increased, whereas that of Odoribacteraceae and genus Butyricimonas decreased in mice on a vitamin D-free diet. Vitamin D deficiency did not induce intestinal dysbiosis, but it resulted in several specific changes to the bacterial taxa, which might play a pathophysiological role in the immunological dysregulation associated with hypovitaminosis (67). Vitamin D is now recognized as a hormone with several extra-skeletal actions, including in the immune system.

The microbiome is correlated with the levels of vitamin D, and Firmicutes phylum, Clostridia class and Clostridia order have been recognized as butyrate producers. Some of the genera identified were Ruminococcus, Coprococcus and Blautia obeum species. Specific microbiota, known as butyrate producers, provide potential targets for intervention, either through dietary modification or vitamin D supplementation (68). Vitamin D deficiency is associated with the cytokine storm and an increased likelihood of requiring a ventilator in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Meanwhile, dexamethasone appears to mitigate the adverse effects of vitamin D deficiency (69).

Vitamin A (VA) exhibits pharmacological activity in the management of pneumonia. The mechanisms of action of VA against SARS-CoV-2 include enrichment of immunoreactions, inhibition of inflammatory reactions and biological processes related to reactive oxygen species (70). VA can assist in promoting intestinal immunity and epithelial integrity (71). According to a study by Liang et al (28), VA may contribute to the clinical management of CHOL/COVID-19 by inducing cell repair, suppressing oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions, and ameliorating immunity (28). One of the roles of VA is regulating the proliferation of B- and T-cell differentiation and interaction, including induced T-cell migration (72). VA can affect gut immunity and epithelial integrity, factors that may, in turn, modulate microbiome development. In neonates, VA is associated with a relatively higher abundance of Bifidobacterium, and a good VA status is associated with a higher abundance of other genera, such as Akkermansia (71).

Drug-related
Over the course of a humans life, an individual will be exposed to numerous drugs, including vaccinations, painkillers, antibiotics and contraceptives. COVID-19 treatment requires limiting viral multiplication and neutralizing tissue damage induced by an inappropriate immune reaction (73). The microbiome can act as a drug as it can secrete enzymes with a biocatalyst effect (74). Drugs can affect the composition of the microbiome in terms of abundance, diversity and function. If there is a deviation, then this will result in dysbiosis. Changes in the microbiome due to administration of drugs can be temporary or long-term (74). There is a positive correlation between the quantity of drugs taken and overall microbiome composition (74). Bifidobacterium decreases during multidrug treatment, which in elderly COVID-19 patients, not only causes dysbiosis in the intestine but also increases bacterial resistance, and in adults the dynamic changes to the microbiome was complex during COVID-19 infection (75,76). Antibiotic use (and misuse) and polypharmacy may promote the selection of resistant commensal strains, which constitute a reservoir of transmittable resistance factors in elderly populations with comorbidities (75).

Antibiotic-induced alterations of the gut microbiome, as an ecologically complex system, may also result in metabolic changes in the host, increasing the risk of weight gain and obesity, altering the immune response and increasing susceptibility to other infections from a loss of colonization resistance (74,77). The top microbiome-associated drugs include proton pump inhibitors lipid-lowering statins, laxatives, metformin, β-blockers, ACE inhibitors and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (77).

The uncontrolled inflammatory process is of particular concern in cases of COVID-19. Research by Dormont et al (78) reported that cases of COVID-19 that resulted in death might be caused by virus-induced hyper-inflammation; multidrug nanoparticles (NPs) were the topic of this study. These multidrug NPs enable efficient encapsulation of drugs, reduce side effects and promise anti-inflammatory and protective effects in lethal endotoxemia and systemic shock models (78). The combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine may carry risks of herb-drug interaction (HDI) (79). A study by Liu et al (79) reported that HDIs primarily occurred in the GI tract, and typically led to diarrhea, but this did not develop or was milder when taking a single drug. According to Dai et al (80), the consistency between the gut microflora and glycosidase system indicates the inhibition of darunavir on the activity of β-glucosidase and β-glucuronidase. Regarding darunavir (with a high HDI risk), when patients with COVID-19 use traditional herbal and anti-coronavirus medicines in combination, it is necessary to adjust the intake interval to avoid alteration of the efficacy and toxicity to prevent/mitigate adverse effects (80).

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is an anti-malarial drug that can be used as treatment of COVID-19, and the combination of chloroquine and HCQ is already used in the treatment of COVID-19. Chloroquine does not affect the expression of ACE-2 on cell surfaces, but it inhibits terminal glycosylation of the ACE-2 receptor for cell entry, which is targeted by SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. HCQ can be used as treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (73). Pan et al (81) reported that HCQ did not increase intestinal permeability. The effect of HCQ was detected on gene expression of tight junction-associated proteins in colonic tissue, and there was no statistically significant change in the mRNA expression levels of several claudins (1, 2, 4, 5, 8 and 14), occludin, cadherin 1, mucin 2 and zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1) after HCQ challenge for 14 days. However, HCQ could alter the gut microbiota composition, and the dominant phyla in these groups were Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes (81).

Million et al (82) reported that simultaneous intake of HCQ and azithromycin (AZ) could be used as a treatment for COVID-19. Clinical results of a combination of HCQ and AZ reported mild adverse events (GI or skin symptoms, headache, insomnia and transient blurred vision). However, AZ can induce a modest decline in the microbiota and a shift in taxonomic composition driven by a reduction in Proteobacteria and Verrucomicrobia (specifically, Akkermansia muciniphila) (83). Moreover, the combination of AZ and florfenicol can alter the gut microbiota composition and decrease the abundance and diversity. At the phylum level, the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes increased significantly in the antibiotic groups (84). Drug treatment in COVID-19 patients can affect the GI microbiome. However, the gut microbiome can provide efficacy and safety by changing the structure of the drug enzymatically and altering the bioavailability, bioactivity or toxicity of the drug.

Herbal
Herbal medicines have several benefits for the GI tract and can serve as alternative treatments. The Nutrition Care (NC) Gut Relief Formula contains a combination of herbs and nutrients, including curcumin, aloe vera, slippery elm, guar gum, pectin, peppermint oil and glutamine. The NC Gut Relief Formula significantly improved GI tract problems and the microbiome profile, and reduced or increased inflammation (85). Traditional Chinese herbal medicines have played a vital role in the treatment of SARS, and combined with Western medicines, significantly improve the symptoms of SARS (86). Herbal medicines have fewer side effects than classic pharmaceuticals (87).

Herbal medicine and functional foods contain fiber, polyphenols and polysaccharides, exerting prebiotic-like activities to prevent and treat cardiometabolic diseases (88). The abundance of Bacteroidetes and Akkermansia, Bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus, Bacteroides and Prevotella is increased by herbal medicine and functional foods. A recent study showed that curcumin improved intestinal barrier function by modulating intracellular signaling and organizing tight junctions, providing a mechanism where curcumin modulates chronic inflammatory diseases (88). Peterson et al (89) reported that herbal medicines drove the formation of unique microbial communities. Herbal medicines also induced blooms of butyrate and propionate production.

Herbal medicines can modulate the gut microbiota in a manner predicted to improve colonic epithelium function, reduce inflammation and provide protection from opportunistic bacteria. Herbal medicine, or natural active ingredients, can reduce blood glucose and lipid levels and lower body and visceral adipose weights (90). Herbs can restore the structure of the intestinal floral, and herbs can aid COVID-19 treatment by modulating the immune system. The intestinal flora is closely related to the expression profile of tight junction proteins in the intestinal epithelial cells, including claudin-1, occludin and ZO-1. Five main categories of herbal ingredients can affect the intestinal flora: Glycosides, flavonoids, alkaloids, phenylpropanoids and organic acids. China’s guidelines mentioned that herbs and prebiotics can be used in the treatment of COVID-19, especially for maintaining intestinal floral homeostasis and preventing secondary bacterial infections. One of the beneficial effects of herbal based medicines is they inhibit the activity of SARS-CoV-2 3C-like protease (91).

reference link :https://www.spandidos-publications.com/10.3892/br.2022.1508


More information: Ivan Vujkovic-Cvijin et al, The systemic anti-microbiota IgG repertoire can identify gut bacteria that translocate across gut barrier surfaces, Science Translational Medicine (2022). DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abl3927www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abl3927

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