Dysbiosis of gut microbiota in a selected population of Parkinson's patients

Daniele Pietrucci; Rocco Cerroni; Valeria Unida; Alessio Farcomeni; Mariangela Pierantozzi; Nicola Biagio Mercuri; Silvia Biocca; Alessandro Stefani; Alessandro Desideri

doi:10.1016/j.parkreldis.2019.06.003

Dysbiosis of gut microbiota in a selected population of Parkinson's patients

Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2019 Aug:65:124-130. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2019.06.003. Epub 2019 Jun 3.

Authors

Daniele Pietrucci¹, Rocco Cerroni², Valeria Unida¹, Alessio Farcomeni³, Mariangela Pierantozzi², Nicola Biagio Mercuri⁴, Silvia Biocca⁵, Alessandro Stefani⁶, Alessandro Desideri⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
² UOSD Parkinson's Center, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
³ Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
⁴ Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.
⁵ Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
⁶ UOSD Parkinson's Center, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: stefani@uniroma2.it.
⁷ Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: desideri@uniroma2.it.

PMID: 31174953
DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2019.06.003

Abstract

Introduction: In recent years the hypothesis that gut microbiota associates with Parkinson's disease (PD) has gained importance, although it has not been possible to define a specific microbiota composition as a predictive biomarker of this disease. We have investigated dysbiosis of gut microbiota in a selected population of PD patients from Central Italy, and examined the weight of specific confounders and predictors, in order to identify potential correlations with clinical phenotypes.

Methods: 152 fecal samples were collected from 80 patients and 72 healthy controls. Patients were enrolled according to tight inclusion criteria. Microbiota composition was studied through 16s ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing analysis in combination with data on dietary/life habits. Age, loss of weight, and sex were recognized as confounding factors, whereas PD-status, age, Body Mass Index, "eat cereals", "gain of weigth" and "physical activity" as predictors. The presence of Lactobacillaceae, Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcaceae families was significantly higher in feces from PD patients compared to healthy controls, while Lachnospiraceae were significantly reduced. Lower levels of Lachnospiraceae and higher levels of Enterobacteriaceae families also correlated with increased disease severity and motor impairment (Hoehn & Yahr stage, MDS-UPDRS Part III). Predictive metagenomics indicated a significant variation of genes involved in the metabolism of short chain fatty acids and amino acids, and in lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis.

Conclusions: PD showed a distinctive microbiota composition. Functional predictions suggest changes in pathways favoring a pro-inflammatory environment in the gastrointestinal tract, and a reduction in the biosynthesis of amino acids acting as precursors of physiological transmitters.

Keywords: 16S rRNA; Dysbiosis; Functional pathways; Gut microbiota; Parkinson's disease; Predictors.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Dysbiosis / diagnosis*
Dysbiosis / physiopathology
Feces / microbiology
Female
Gastrointestinal Microbiome / physiology*
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Parkinson Disease / diagnosis*
Parkinson Disease / microbiology*
Parkinson Disease / physiopathology