A Distinct Faecal Microbiota and Metabolite Profile Linked to Bowel Habits in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Bani Ahluwalia,
Cristina Iribarren,
Maria K. Magnusson,
Johanna Sundin,
Egbert Clevers,
Otto Savolainen,
Alastair B. Ross,
Hans Törnblom,
Magnus Simrén,
Lena Öhman
Affiliations
Bani Ahluwalia
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
Cristina Iribarren
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
Maria K. Magnusson
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
Johanna Sundin
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
Egbert Clevers
Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, 413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden
Otto Savolainen
Chalmers Mass Spectrometry Infrastructure, Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
Alastair B. Ross
Chalmers Mass Spectrometry Infrastructure, Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
Hans Törnblom
Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, 413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden
Magnus Simrén
Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, 413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden
Lena Öhman
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are suggested to have an altered intestinal microenvironment. We therefore aimed to determine the intestinal microenvironment profile, based on faecal microbiota and metabolites, and the potential link to symptoms in IBS patients. The faecal microbiota was evaluated by the GA-mapTM dysbiosis test, and tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) was used for faecal metabolomic profiling in patients with IBS and healthy subjects. Symptom severity was assessed using the IBS Severity Scoring System and anxiety and depression were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. A principal component analysis based on faecal microbiota (n = 54) and metabolites (n = 155) showed a clear separation between IBS patients (n = 40) and healthy subjects (n = 18). Metabolites were the main driver of this separation. Additionally, the intestinal microenvironment profile differed between IBS patients with constipation (n = 15) and diarrhoea (n = 11), while no clustering was detected in subgroups of patients according to symptom severity or anxiety. Furthermore, ingenuity pathway analysis predicted amino acid metabolism and several cellular and molecular functions to be altered in IBS patients. Patients with IBS have a distinct faecal microbiota and metabolite profile linked to bowel habits. Intestinal microenvironment profiling, based on faecal microbiota and metabolites, may be considered as a future non-invasive diagnostic tool, alongside providing valuable insights into the pathophysiology of IBS.
