Abstract
BackgroundParkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. There is accumulating evidence that link gut microbiota to symptomatology and pathophysiology of PD. The aim of this study was to describe the pattern of gut microbiota and its association with PD and identify the effect of environmental factors on gut microbiota. This case–control study included 46 patients diagnosed as Parkinson’s disease (PD) and 31 healthy volunteers age and sex matched. Detailed history including age of onset, duration of disease, environmental risk factors, diet data, treatment, Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) domain of Non‐Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) were assessed. After extraction of bacterial DNA from the fecal samples, bacterial abundance was quantified by qPCR using 16S rRNA group-specific primers.ResultsSignificant high abundance of Clostridium cluster IV, Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, and lactic acid bacteria were found in the PD group compared with the control group (P < 0.001, 0.04, 0.02 and < 0.001, respectively), while Firmicutes were significantly less abundant in the PD group (P < 0.001) compared with the control group. The naive PD patients had significant abundance of Bifidobacterium, and lactic acid compared with control group. Interestingly, Akkermansia was more abundant in treated than untreated patients. There were significant associations between pesticide exposure and Bifidobacterium (P = 0.002), while no significant correlations between different gut microbiota and demographic, environment data, different rating scores or dominant type of PD. There was a significant negative correlation between the Bifidobacterium with the duration of illness (P = 0.012). ConclusionThe present study highlighted a significant connection between PD and levels of certain types of gut microbiota, in support of a possible link between gut microbiota and a neurodegenerative cascade of PD.
Highlights
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases
As there has been no previous study in Egypt, we aimed to describe the pattern of gut microbiota in sample of PD patients and its relationship with different environmental and risk factors for PD
There were no significant differences between PD patients and controls in age, sex, duration of smoking, or number of cigarettes per day
Summary
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. There is accumulating evidence that link gut microbiota to symptomatology and pathophysiology of PD. The aim of this study was to describe the pattern of gut microbiota and its association with PD and identify the effect of environmental factors on gut microbiota This case–control study included 46 patients diagnosed as Parkinson’s disease (PD) and 31 healthy volunteers age and sex matched. Gut microbiota influences intestinal motility, permeability, secretion and immunity, and passes signals to central nervous system (CNS) through microbiota–gut– brain axis [5]. Each individual has their own specific gut microbiota and a variety of exogenous factors can affect their composition including diet, infection, lifestyle, use of antibiotics and hygiene preferences [6]. A positive correlation between gut microbiota and clinical phenotype has been found between the abundance of Enterobacteriaceae and severity of postural instability and gait difficulty, suggesting that one or more changes in specific bacteria may be related to the symptoms or pathology of PD [8]
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