Comprehensive Analysis of Gut Microbiota and Fecal Bile Acid Profiles in Children With Biliary Atresia.

Abstract

Background:

Biliary atresia (BA) is the most common cholestatic liver disease in neonates. Herein, we aimed at characterizing the gut microbiota and fecal bile acid profiles of BA patients, defining the correlations between them, and evaluating the relationship between the clinical pathogenesis and changes in the gut microbiota and bile acid profiles.

Methods:

A total of 84 fecal samples from BA patients (n = 46) and matched healthy controls (HCs, n = 38) were subjected to sequencing by 16S rRNA gene amplification, and fecal bile acid were analyzed by targeted metabolomics.

Findings:

Compared with the controls, a structural separation of the intestinal flora of BA patients was uncovered, which was accompanied by changes in the composition of fecal bile acids. In the BA group, Actinobacillus, Monoglobus, and Agathobacter were enriched in patients without cholangitis (p < 0.05). Selenomonadaceae and Megamonas were more abundant in patients without recurrent cholangitis episodes (p < 0.05), while Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae were enriched in patients with multiple recurrences of cholangitis (p < 0.05). Postoperative jaundice clearance was associated with Campylobacter and Rikenellaceae (p < 0.05), and tauroursodeoxycholic acid was associated with jaundice clearance (p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

BA patients are characterized by different compositions of gut microbiota and bile acids, and their interaction is involved in the process of liver damage in BA, which may be closely related to the occurrence of postoperative cholangitis and jaundice clearance.

• Authors: Ting Yang, Shen Yang, Jiawei Zhao, Peize Wang, Siqi Li, Yuyan Jin, Zhaozhou Liu, Xinyue Zhang, Yanan Zhang, Yong Zhao, Junmin Liao, Shuangshuang Li, Kaiyun Hua, Yichao Gu, Dingding Wang, Jinshi Huang
• Journal: Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology (Front Cell Infect Microbiol) Vol. 12 Pg. 914247 ( 2022) ISSN: 2235-2988 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 35782134 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2022 Yang, Yang, Zhao, Wang, Li, Jin, Liu, Zhang, Zhang, Zhao, Liao, Li, Hua, Gu, Wang and Huang.

Chemical References

• Bile Acids and Salts
• RNA, Ribosomal, 16S

Topics

• Bile Acids and Salts
• Biliary Atresia
• Child
• Cholangitis
• Clostridiales (genetics)
• Gastrointestinal Microbiome
• Humans
• Infant, Newborn
• RNA, Ribosomal, 16S (genetics)