The gut microbiome shows changes under a plateau environment, while the disbalance of intestinal microbiota plays an important role in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); however, the relationship between the two remains unexplored. In this work, we followed up a healthy cohort for up to a year before and after living in a plateau environment and performed 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing analysis of their fecal samples. Through evaluating the participants' clinical symptoms, combined with an IBS questionnaire, we screened the IBS sub-population in our cohort. The sequencing results showed that a high-altitude environment could lead to changes in the diversity and composition of gut flora. In addition, we found that the longer the time volunteers spent in the plateau environment, the more similar their gut microbiota composition and abundance became compared to those before entering the plateau, and IBS symptoms were significantly alleviated. Therefore, we speculated that the plateau may be a special environment that induces IBS. The taxonomic units g_Alistipes, g_Oscillospira, and s_Ruminococcus_torques, which had been proved to play important roles in IBS pathogenesis, were also abundant in the IBS cohort at high altitudes. Overall, the disbalance of gut microbiota induced by the plateau environment contributed to the high frequency of IBS and the psychosocial abnormalities associated with IBS. Our results prompt further research to elucidate the relevant mechanism.
肠道微生态受高原环境的影响，微生态失调在肠易激综合征（IBS）的发病机制中起着重要作用，但高原环境对汉族人群肠道微生物的变化的影响及高原环境对IBS发生的相关性有待进一步地研究。在本项研究中，我们前瞻性地对从平原进入高原环境工作生活的一组健康队列进行了一年的随访，并对其中一些人的粪便样本进行了16S核糖体RNA（16S rRNA）测序分析。根据参与者的临床症状，与IBS问卷相结合，筛选出队列中的IBS患者。结果表明：高原环境可导致肠道微生物多样性和组成的变化，并随着在高原停留时间的延长，肠道微生物表现出适应性的动态变化，恢复到接近进入高原前的水平，IBS的症状也明显缓解。因此，我们推测高原环境可能是诱发IBS的特殊环境。被证实在IBS的发病机制中发挥重要作用的分类物种g_Alistipes、g_Oscillospira和s_Ruminococcus_torques在高海拔地区IBS队列中也被发现。总之，高原环境导致的肠道微生物失调可能导致了IBS在高原环境中的高发生率，同时心理因素可能也参与了高原环境下IBS的发生，具体的相关机制需要进一步的研究。.
肠道微生态受高原环境的影响，微生态失调在肠易激综合征（IBS）的发病机制中起着重要作用，但高原环境对汉族人群肠道微生物的变化的影响及高原环境对IBS发生的相关性有待进一步地研究。在本项研究中，我们前瞻性地对从平原进入高原环境工作生活的一组健康队列进行了一年的随访，并对其中一些人的粪便样本进行了16S核糖体RNA（16S rRNA）测序分析。根据参与者的临床症状，与IBS问卷相结合，筛选出队列中的IBS患者。结果表明：高原环境可导致肠道微生物多样性和组成的变化，并随着在高原停留时间的延长，肠道微生物表现出适应性的动态变化，恢复到接近进入高原前的水平，IBS的症状也明显缓解。因此，我们推测高原环境可能是诱发IBS的特殊环境。被证实在IBS的发病机制中发挥重要作用的分类物种g_Alistipes、g_Oscillospira和s_Ruminococcus_torques在高海拔地区IBS队列中也被发现。总之，高原环境导致的肠道微生物失调可能导致了IBS在高原环境中的高发生率，同时心理因素可能也参与了高原环境下IBS的发生，具体的相关机制需要进一步的研究。
Keywords: Gut microbiome; Irritable bowel syndrome; Plateau environment.