| Autor: |
Bazzocchi G; Neurogastroenterology Unit, Montecatone Rehabilitation Institute, via Montecatone 37, 40026, Imola, Bologna, Italy. gabriele.bazzocchi@unibo.it., Turroni S; Unit of Microbiome Science and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy., Bulzamini MC; Spinal Unit, Montecatone Rehabilitation Institute, Imola, Bologna, Italy., D'Amico F; Unit of Microbiome Science and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.; Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy., Bava A; ASST Gaetano Pini CTO, Milan, Italy., Castiglioni M; ASST Gaetano Pini CTO, Milan, Italy., Cagnetta V; ICS Maugeri, Bari, Italy., Losavio E; ICS Maugeri, Bari, Italy., Cazzaniga M; Ospedale Valduce, Costa Masnaga, Lecco, Italy., Terenghi L; Ospedale Valduce, Costa Masnaga, Lecco, Italy., De Palma L; Ospedale Policlinico, Bari, Italy., Frasca G; Ospedale Policlinico, Bari, Italy., Aiachini B; ICS Maugeri, Pavia, Italy., Cremascoli S; ICS Maugeri, Pavia, Italy., Massone A; Ospedale Santa Corona, Pietra Ligure, Savona, Italy., Oggerino C; Ospedale Santa Corona, Pietra Ligure, Savona, Italy., Onesta MP; Ospedale Cannizzaro, Catania, Italy., Rapisarda L; Ospedale Cannizzaro, Catania, Italy., Pagliacci MC; Azienda Ospedaliera, Perugia, Italy., Biscotto S; Azienda Ospedaliera, Perugia, Italy., Scarazzato M; Fondazione Teresa Camplani, Domus Salutis, Brescia, Italy., Giovannini T; Montecatone Rehabilitation Institute, Imola, Bologna, Italy., Balloni M; Neurogastroenterology Unit, Montecatone Rehabilitation Institute, via Montecatone 37, 40026, Imola, Bologna, Italy., Candela M; Unit of Microbiome Science and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy., Brigidi P; Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy., Kiekens C; Spinal Unit, Montecatone Rehabilitation Institute, Imola, Bologna, Italy. |
| Abstrakt: |
After spinal cord injury (SCI), patients face many physical and psychological issues including intestinal dysfunction and comorbidities, strongly affecting quality of life. The gut microbiota has recently been suggested to influence the course of the disease in these patients. However, to date only two studies have profiled the gut microbiota in SCI patients, months after a traumatic injury. Here we characterized the gut microbiota in a large Italian SCI population, within a short time from a not only traumatic injury. Feces were collected within the first week at the rehabilitation center (no later than 60 days after SCI), and profiled by 16S rRNA gene-based next-generation sequencing. Microbial profiles were compared to those publicly available of healthy age- and gender-matched Italians, and correlated to patient metadata, including type of SCI, spinal unit location, nutrition and concomitant antibiotic therapies. The gut microbiota of SCI patients shows distinct dysbiotic signatures, i.e. increase in potentially pathogenic, pro-inflammatory and mucus-degrading bacteria, and depletion of short-chain fatty acid producers. While robust to most host variables, such dysbiosis varies by lesion level and completeness, with the most neurologically impaired patients showing an even more unbalanced microbial profile. The SCI-related gut microbiome dysbiosis is very likely secondary to injury and closely related to the degree of completeness and severity of the lesion, regardless of etiology and time interval. This microbial layout could variously contribute to increased gut permeability and inflammation, potentially predisposing patients to the onset of severe comorbidities. |
