Prediction of early remission after infliximab in Crohn’s disease using baseline microbiome and metabolomics

Abstract

To characterize the microbiome and metabolic profile in Crohn's disease (CD) patients with different outcome after infliximab (IFX) treatment. The clinical data of a cohort of 35 patients with moderate-to-severe CD admitted at Jinling hospital between Oct 2022 and Dec 2023 were collected. Stool samples at baseline were collected to perform 16SrRNA and ITS2 sequencing and LC-MS untargeted metabolomics. Of these, seven discontinued IFX and underwent surgery during the induction period, and 28 received IFX at weeks 0, 2, and 6, each administered intravenously. Clinical remission was assessed based on the clinical symptoms and HBI at baseline and week 14. Baseline microbial richness and evenness was not significantly different between remission and non-remission group. The taxonomic community analysis identified decrease of Ruminococcus, Lachnoclostridium, Akkermansia in bacterial community and decrease of Asterotremella and Wallemia in fungal community in the non-remission group. LC–MS analysis showed that histamine, creatinine and L-proline significantly increased in remission group, while androsterone, berberine and episterol significantly decreased. The combined prediction model of histamine, androsterone, and episterol demonstrated a high predictive value of remission in patients after IFX treatment (AUC=0.898, p<0.001). Together, these data might facilitate a priori determination of optimal therapeutics for CD patients.