Project description:The human intestinal microbiota plays an essential role in host health. Modifications in its composition and diversity could induce pathologies such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). These diseases are characterized by an unbalanced intestinal microbiota (a process known as dysbiosis) and an altered immune response. Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, the most abundant commensal bacterium in the human intestinal microbiota of healthy individuals (representing more than 5% of the total bacterial population), has been reported to be lower in feces and mucosa-associated microbiota of IBD patients. In addition, we have shown that both F. prausnitzii and its culture supernatant (SN) have anti-inflammatory and protective effects in both acute and chronic colitis models. However, the host molecular mechanisms involved in these anti-inflammatory effects remain unknown. In order to address this issue, we performed DNA chip-based transcriptomic analyses in HT-29 human intestinal epithelial cells stimulated with TNF-a and exposed to F. prausnitzii SN or to BHI (growth medium for F prausnitzii).
Project description:BackgroundThe gut microbiota plays a crucial role in coronary artery disease (CAD) development, but limited attention has been given to the role of the microbiota in preventing this disease. This study aimed to identify key biomarkers using metagenomics and untargeted metabolomics and verify their associations with atherosclerosis.MethodsA total of 371 participants, including individuals with various CAD types and CAD-free controls, were enrolled. Subsequently, significant markers were identified in the stool samples through gut metagenomic sequencing and untargeted metabolomics. In vivo and in vitro experiments were performed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the association between these markers and atherosclerosis.ResultsFaecal omics sequencing revealed that individuals with a substantial presence of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii had the lowest incidence of CAD across diverse CAD groups and control subjects. A random forest model confirmed the significant relationship between F. prausnitzii and CAD incidence. Notably, F. prausnitzii emerged as a robust, independent CAD predictor. Furthermore, our findings indicated the potential of the gut microbiota and gut metabolites to predict CAD occurrence and progression, potentially impacting amino acid and vitamin metabolism. F. prausnitzii mitigated inflammation and exhibited an antiatherosclerotic effect on ApoE-/- mice after gavage. This effect was attributed to reduced intestinal LPS synthesis and reinforced mechanical and mucosal barriers, leading to decreased plasma LPS levels and an antiatherosclerotic outcome.ConclusionsSequencing of the samples revealed a previously unknown link between specific gut microbiota and atherosclerosis. Treatment with F. prausnitzii may help prevent CAD by inhibiting atherosclerosis.
Project description:To elucidate whether Faecalibacterium prausnitzii has effects on intestinal toxicity induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors, we performed RNA-seq analysis of colon tissues of mice receiving DSS, DSS+ICB and DSS+ICB+F. prausnitzii gavage to compare the gene expression profiles.
Project description:Reports that bacteria within the Firmicutes phylum, especially the species Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, are less abundant in Crohn's disease (CD) patients and supernatants from cultures of this bacterium are anti-inflammatory prompted the investigation of the possible correlations between the abundance of F. prausnitzii and the response to treatment in patients with gut diseases and healthy controls. In a randomized, double-blind trial, faeces were collected from healthy volunteers, and from patients with active CD, ulcerative colitis (UC) and irritable bowel syndrome before and after treatment. The levels of F. prausnitzii DNA in faecal suspensions were determined by PCR. Treatment by an elemental diet was effective, resulting in decreases in both the Harvey and Bradshaw index (P<0.001) and the concentrations of serum C-reactive protein (P<0.05). The total levels of F. prausnitzii in faecal samples from CD patients at presentation were lower than those in the other groups both before and after the treatment. There was no correlation between F. prausnitzii abundance and the severity of CD before treatment. Clinical improvement unexpectedly correlated with a significant decrease in the abundance of F. prausnitzii, especially the A2-165 subgroup (P<0.05). Our data suggest that a paucity of F. prausnitzii in the gastrointestinal microbial communities is likely to be a minor aetiological factor in CD: recovery following elemental diet is attributed to lower levels of gut flora.