16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of gut microbiota in gestational diabetes mellitus and their correlation with disease risk factors

J Wei,J Gao,J Liu,H Zhou,C Qi,Y Qing

doi:10.1007/s40618-021-01595-4

Abstract

PurposeAlthough the gut microbiota (GM) are associated with various diseases, their role in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains uncharacterized. Further study is urgently needed to expose the real relationship between GM and GDM.MethodsWe performed a prospective study in 33 pregnant Chinese individuals [15, GDM; 18, normal glucose tolerance (NGT)] to observe the fecal microbiota by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing at 24–28 weeks of gestational age after a standard 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. Linear regression analysis was employed to assess the relationships between the GM and GDM clinical parameters.ResultsSequencing showed no difference in the microbiota alpha diversity but a significant difference in the beta diversity between the GDM and NGT groups, with the relative abundances of Ruminococcus bromii, Clostridium colinum, and Streptococcus infantis being higher in the GDM group (P < 0.05). The quantitative PCR results validated the putative bacterial markers of R. bromii and S. infantis. Moreover, a strong positive correlation was found between S. infantis and blood glucose levels after adjusting for body mass index (P < 0.05).ConclusionThree abnormally expressed intestinal bacteria (R. bromii, C. colinum, and S. infantis) were identified in GDM patients. S. infantis may confer an increased risk of GDM. Hence, the GM may serve as a potential therapeutic target for GDM.

Highlights

The prevalence of metabolic diseases during pregnancy has increased globally [1,2,3], including gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), which is diagnosed during pregnancy in women with normal glucose metabolism or potentially diminished glucose tolerance before pregnancy [4]
To obtain a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between gut microbiota (GM) and GDM, we explored the GM composition and abundance in 33 samples [15 from women diagnosed with GDM and 18 from pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT)] by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing using an Illumina HiSeq (PE 250) platform
The results show that samples from the GDM group contained a higher abundance of R. bromii (P < 0.05) and S. infantis (P < 0.1) compared to the NGT group, consistent with the sequencing results (Fig. 3d)

Summary

Introduction

The prevalence of metabolic diseases during pregnancy has increased globally [1,2,3], including gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), which is diagnosed during pregnancy in women with normal glucose metabolism or potentially diminished glucose tolerance before pregnancy [4]. Increasing evidence has indicated that GDM is associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) after pregnancy [7]. GDM is a transient condition and glucose metabolism often normalizes shortly after delivery, women with GDM have a 40% higher risk of developing T2DM within a 15-year period [8]. GDM is a disease characterized by abnormal glucose metabolism with a very similar pathogenesis to T2DM [11]. The relationship between T2DM pathogenesis and changes in GM has attracted increasing attention, with studies reporting that GM can participate in glucose and fat metabolism and inflammatory and immune responses [12,13,14] and promote insulin resistance by altering fat absorption and metabolism [15]

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Conclusion