Abstract
BackgroundThere is increasing evidence linking alterations of the gut microbial composition during early infancy to the development of atopic diseases and asthma. However, few studies have addressed the association of dysbiotic gut microbiota with allergic reactions through evaluation of feces in young children with allergic airway diseases. MethodsWe sought to evaluate relationships among gut microbiota, total fecal immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, serum allergic sensitization, and their relevance to childhood allergic rhinitis and asthma. Microbial composition and diversity were analyzed with Illumina-based 16S rRNA gene sequencing of 89 stool samples collected from children with asthma (n = 35) and allergic rhinitis (n = 28), and from healthy controls (n = 26). Data analysis was performed using Quantitative Insights into Microbial Ecology (QIIME) software. ResultsA significantly lower abundance of organisms of the phylum Firmicutes were found in children with asthma and allergic rhinitis than in the healthy controls. Relatively lower Chao1 and Shannon indices were also found in children with allergic airway diseases but without any significant difference. Total fecal IgE levels in early childhood were strongly correlated with serum D. pteronyssinus- and D. farinae-specific IgE but not with food-specific IgE levels. In comparison with healthy controls, the genus Dorea was less abundant and negatively correlated with total fecal IgE levels in children with rhinitis, whereas the genus Clostridium was abundant and positively correlated with fecal IgE levels in children with asthma. ConclusionsAn interaction between particular subsets of gut microbial dysbiosis and IgE-mediated responses to allergens may contribute to the susceptibility to allergic rhinitis and asthma in early childhood.
Highlights
There is increasing evidence linking alterations of the gut microbial composition during early infancy to the development of atopic diseases and asthma
Eighty-nine subjects were enrolled in this study, including 35 children with asthma, 28 children with allergic rhinitis, and 26 healthy controls
Atopic indices including total fecal immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and total serum and D. pteronyssinus-specific IgE levels were significantly higher in children with asthma and rhinitis than in the healthy controls
Summary
There is increasing evidence linking alterations of the gut microbial composition during early infancy to the development of atopic diseases and asthma. A recent longitudinal analysis has demonstrated a link between the gut microbe-environment interactions and the development of childhood asthma.[8] Gut microbiota co-evolves with the infants’ immune system, and several studies have found that altered microbial diversity in early infancy precedes the development of allergic rhinitis and asthma at school age.[9,10,11] the prevalence of rhinitis and asthma increases exponentially after infancy.[2,12] Despite evidence linking early dysbiosis of the gut microbiome to allergies,[13] few studies have addressed the Abbreviations: IgE, immunoglobulin E; OTUs, Operational taxonomic Units; QIIME, Quantitative Insights into Microbial Ecology. Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Keelung, 222, Mai-Jin Road, Keelung, Taiwan
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