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Sun H, Chen M, Liao J, He L, Wan B, Yin J, Zhang X. The maternal lifestyle in pregnancy: Implications for foetal skeletal muscle development. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2024; 15:1641-1650. [PMID: 39155495 PMCID: PMC11446712 DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.13556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The world is facing a global nutrition crisis, as evidenced by the rising incidence of metabolic disorders such as obesity, insulin resistance and chronic inflammation. Skeletal muscle is the largest tissue in humans and plays an important role in movement and host metabolism. Muscle fibre formation occurs mainly during the embryonic stage. Therefore, maternal lifestyle, especially nutrition and exercise during pregnancy, has a critical influence on foetal skeletal muscle development and the subsequent metabolic health of the offspring. In this review, the influence of maternal obesity, malnutrition and micronutrient intake on foetal skeletal muscle development is systematically summarized. We also aim to describe how maternal exercise shapes foetal muscle development and metabolic health in the offspring. The role of maternal gut microbiota and its metabolites on foetal muscle development is further discussed, although this field is still in its 'infancy'. This review will provide new insights to reduce the global crisis of metabolic disorders and highlight current gaps to promote further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haijun Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and TechnologyChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Meixia Chen
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary MedicineBeijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Jialong Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and TechnologyChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Linjuan He
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and TechnologyChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Boyang Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and TechnologyChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Jingdong Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and TechnologyChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding (MOE)BeijingChina
| | - Xin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and TechnologyChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding (MOE)BeijingChina
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2
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Collins JM, Keane JM, Deady C, Khashan AS, McCarthy FP, O'Keeffe GW, Clarke G, Cryan JF, Caputi V, O'Mahony SM. Prenatal stress impacts foetal neurodevelopment: Temporal windows of gestational vulnerability. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 164:105793. [PMID: 38971516 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
Prenatal maternal stressors ranging in severity from everyday occurrences/hassles to the experience of traumatic events negatively impact neurodevelopment, increasing the risk for the onset of psychopathology in the offspring. Notably, the timing of prenatal stress exposure plays a critical role in determining the nature and severity of subsequent neurodevelopmental outcomes. In this review, we evaluate the empirical evidence regarding temporal windows of heightened vulnerability to prenatal stress with respect to motor, cognitive, language, and behavioural development in both human and animal studies. We also explore potential temporal windows whereby several mechanisms may mediate prenatal stress-induced neurodevelopmental effects, namely, excessive hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity, altered serotonin signalling and sympathetic-adrenal-medullary system, changes in placental function, immune system dysregulation, and alterations of the gut microbiota. While broadly defined developmental windows are apparent for specific psychopathological outcomes, inconsistencies arise when more complex cognitive and behavioural outcomes are considered. Novel approaches to track molecular markers reflective of the underlying aetiologies throughout gestation to identify tractable biomolecular signatures corresponding to critical vulnerability periods are urgently required.
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Affiliation(s)
- James M Collins
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
| | - James M Keane
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Clara Deady
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Ali S Khashan
- School of Public Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; The Irish Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research (INFANT), Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Fergus P McCarthy
- The Irish Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research (INFANT), Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork, Ireland; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Gerard W O'Keeffe
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; The Irish Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research (INFANT), Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Gerard Clarke
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; The Irish Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research (INFANT), Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork, Ireland; Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
| | - John F Cryan
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Valentina Caputi
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
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3
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Wang W, Gu W, Schweitzer R, Koren O, Khatib S, Tseng G, Konnikova L. In utero human intestine contains maternally derived bacterial metabolites. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.20.608888. [PMID: 39229010 PMCID: PMC11370329 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.20.608888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2024]
Abstract
Understanding when host-microbiome interactions are first established is crucial for comprehending normal development and identifying disease prevention strategies. Furthermore, bacterially derived metabolites play critical roles in shaping the intestinal immune system. Recent studies have demonstrated that memory T cells infiltrate human intestinal tissue early in the second trimester, suggesting that intestinal immune education begins in utero. Our previous study reported a unique fetal intestinal metabolomic profile with an abundance of several bacterially derived metabolites and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) ligands implicated in mucosal immune regulation. To follow up on this work, in the current study, we demonstrate that a number of microbial byproducts present in fetal intestines in utero are maternally derived and vertically transmitted to the fetus. Notably, these bacterially derived metabolites, particularly short chain fatty acids and secondary bile acids, are likely biologically active and functional in regulating the fetal immune system and preparing the gastrointestinal tract for postnatal microbial encounters, as the transcripts for their various receptors and carrier proteins are present in second trimester intestinal tissue through single-cell transcriptomic data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjia Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Weihong Gu
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ron Schweitzer
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Safed, Israel
- Department of Biotechnology, Tel-Hai College, Upper Galilee, Israel
- Department of Natural Compounds and Analytical Chemistry, Migal Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
| | - Omry Koren
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Soliman Khatib
- Department of Biotechnology, Tel-Hai College, Upper Galilee, Israel
- Department of Natural Compounds and Analytical Chemistry, Migal Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
| | - George Tseng
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Liza Konnikova
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Departments of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Program in Translational Biomedicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Human Translational Immunology Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Center for Systems and Engineering Immunology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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Gu W, Eke C, Gonzalez Santiago E, Olaloye O, Konnikova L. Single-cell atlas of the small intestine throughout the human lifespan demonstrates unique features of fetal immune cells. Mucosal Immunol 2024; 17:599-617. [PMID: 38555026 PMCID: PMC11384551 DOI: 10.1016/j.mucimm.2024.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Proper development of mucosal immunity is critical for human health. Over the past decade, it has become evident that in humans, this process begins in utero. However, there are limited data on the unique features and functions of fetal mucosal immune cells. To address this gap, we integrated several single-cell ribonucleic acid sequencing datasets of the human small intestine (SI) to create an SI transcriptional atlas throughout the human life span, ranging from the first trimester to adulthood, with a focus on immune cells. Fetal SI displayed a complex immune landscape comprising innate and adaptive immune cells that exhibited distinct transcriptional programs from postnatal samples, especially compared with pediatric and adult samples. We identified shifts in myeloid populations across gestation and progression of memory T-cell states throughout the human lifespan. In particular, there was a marked shift of memory T cells from those with stem-like properties in the fetal samples to fully differentiated cells with a high expression of activation and effector function genes in adult samples, with neonatal samples containing both features. Finally, we demonstrate that the SI developmental atlas can be used to elucidate improper trajectories linked to mucosal diseases by implicating developmental abnormalities underlying necrotizing enterocolitis, a severe intestinal complication of prematurity. Collectively, our data provide valuable resources and important insights into intestinal immunity that will facilitate regenerative medicine and disease understanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weihong Gu
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Chino Eke
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Oluwabunmi Olaloye
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Liza Konnikova
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Program in Translational Biomedicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Program in Human Translational Immunology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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Mpakosi A, Sokou R, Theodoraki M, Kaliouli-Antonopoulou C. Neonatal Gut Mycobiome: Immunity, Diversity of Fungal Strains, and Individual and Non-Individual Factors. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:902. [PMID: 39063655 PMCID: PMC11278438 DOI: 10.3390/life14070902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The human gastrointestinal ecosystem, or microbiome (comprising the total bacterial genome in an environment), plays a crucial role in influencing host physiology, immune function, metabolism, and the gut-brain axis. While bacteria, fungi, viruses, and archaea are all present in the gastrointestinal ecosystem, research on the human microbiome has predominantly focused on the bacterial component. The colonization of the human intestine by microbes during the first two years of life significantly impacts subsequent composition and diversity, influencing immune system development and long-term health. Early-life exposure to pathogens is crucial for establishing immunological memory and acquired immunity. Factors such as maternal health habits, delivery mode, and breastfeeding duration contribute to gut dysbiosis. Despite fungi's critical role in health, particularly for vulnerable newborns, research on the gut mycobiome in infants and children remains limited. Understanding early-life factors shaping the gut mycobiome and its interactions with other microbial communities is a significant research challenge. This review explores potential factors influencing the gut mycobiome, microbial kingdom interactions, and their connections to health outcomes from childhood to adulthood. We identify gaps in current knowledge and propose future research directions in this complex field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Mpakosi
- Department of Microbiology, General Hospital of Nikaia “Agios Panteleimon”, 18454 Piraeus, Greece
| | - Rozeta Sokou
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, General Hospital of Nikaia “Agios Panteleimon”, 18454 Piraeus, Greece;
- Neonatal Department, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aretaieio Hospital, 11528 Athens, Greece
| | - Martha Theodoraki
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, General Hospital of Nikaia “Agios Panteleimon”, 18454 Piraeus, Greece;
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Li HB, Xu ML, Xia WJ, Dong YY, Peng B, Su Q, Wang XM, Yu JY, Gao YN, Wu JZ, Xu MY, Yang JB, Dai ZM, Chen L, Li Y, Bai J. Antihypertensive treatment during pregnancy induces long-term changes in gut microbiota and the behaviors of the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder offspring. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2024; 486:116946. [PMID: 38679241 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2024.116946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
The pathogenesis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has not been fully elucidated. Gestational hypertension could double the probability of ADHD in the offspring, while the initial bacterial communication between the mother and offspring has been associated with psychiatric disorders. Thus, we hypothesize that antihypertensive treatment during pregnancy may abate the impairments in neurodevelopment of the offspring. To test this hypothesis, we chose Captopril and Labetalol, to apply to pregnant spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) dams and examined the outcomes in the male offspring. Our data demonstrated that maternal treatment with Captopril and Labetalol had long-lasting changes in gut microbiota and behavioral alterations, including decreased hyperactivity and increased curiosity, spatial learning and memory in the male offspring. Increased diversity and composition were identified, and some ADHD related bacteria were found to have the same change in the gut microbiota of both the dam and offspring after the treatments. LC-MS/MS and immunohistochemistry assays suggested elevated expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and dopamine in the prefrontal cortex and striatum of offspring exposed to Captopril/ Labetalol, which may account for the improvement of the offspring's psychiatric functions. Therefore, our results support the beneficial long-term effects of the intervention of gestational hypertension in the prevention of ADHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Bao Li
- Dialysis Department of Nephrology Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China; Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Meng-Lu Xu
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an 710077, China
| | - Wen-Jie Xia
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Dong
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Bo Peng
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Qing Su
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Xiao-Min Wang
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Jia-Yue Yu
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Ya-Nan Gao
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Jun-Zhe Wu
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Meng-Yue Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Brian Science, The Second Clinical College of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xian'yang 712000, China
| | - Jin-Bao Yang
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Xi'an International Medical Center Hospital, Xi'an 710075, China
| | - Zhi-Ming Dai
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710004, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Dialysis Department of Nephrology Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an 710061, China.
| | - Juan Bai
- Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Brian Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China.
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Foessleitner P, Pjevac P, Granser S, Wisgrill L, Pummer L, Eckel F, Seki D, Berry D, Hausmann B, Farr A. The maternal microbiome in pregnancy, delivery, and early-stage development of neonatal microbiome after cesarean section: A prospective longitudinal study. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2024; 103:832-841. [PMID: 38268221 PMCID: PMC11019516 DOI: 10.1111/aogs.14773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Changes within the maternal microbiome during the last trimester of pregnancy and the determinants of the subsequent neonatal microbiome establishment after delivery by elective cesarean section are described. MATERIAL AND METHODS Maternal vaginal and rectal microbiome samples were collected in the last trimester and before cesarean section; intrauterine cavity, placenta, neonatal buccal mucosa, skin, and meconium samples were obtained at birth; neonatal sample collection was repeated 2-3 days postnatally. Microbial community composition was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Relative abundance measurements of amplicon sequencing variants and sum counts at higher taxonomic levels were compared to test for significant overlap or differences in microbial community compositions. CLINICALTRIALS gov ID: NCT04489056. RESULTS A total of 30 mothers and their neonates were included with available microbiome samples for all maternal, intrauterine cavity and placenta samples, as well as for 18 of 30 neonates. The composition of maternal vaginal and rectal microbiomes during the last trimester of healthy pregnancies did not significantly change (permutational multivariate analysis of variance [PERMANOVA], p > 0.05). No robust microbial signature was detected in the intrauterine cavity, placenta, neonatal buccal mucosa, skin swabs, or meconium samples collected at birth. After birth, the neonatal microbiome was rapidly established, and significantly different microbial communities were detectable 2-3 days postnatally in neonate buccal mucosa and stool samples (PERMANOVA, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Maternal vaginal and rectal microbiomes in healthy pregnancies remain stable during the third trimester. No microbial colonization of the neonate was observed before birth in healthy pregnancies. Neonatal microbiomes in infants delivered by cesarean section displayed a taxonomic composition distinct from maternal vaginal and rectal microbiomes at birth, indicating that postnatal exposure to the extrauterine environment is the driving source of initial neonatal microbiome development in this cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Foessleitner
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Obstetrics and Feto‐Maternal MedicineMedical University of Vienna, and Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics (CCP), Medical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Petra Pjevac
- Joint Microbiome FacilityMedical University of Vienna and University of ViennaViennaAustria
- University of ViennaCenter for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem ScienceViennaAustria
| | - Sonja Granser
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Obstetrics and Feto‐Maternal MedicineMedical University of Vienna, and Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics (CCP), Medical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Lukas Wisgrill
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Neonatology, Intensive Care Medicine, and Neuropediatrics, and Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics (CCP)Medical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Lisa Pummer
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Neonatology, Intensive Care Medicine, and Neuropediatrics, and Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics (CCP)Medical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Fanny Eckel
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Obstetrics and Feto‐Maternal MedicineMedical University of Vienna, and Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics (CCP), Medical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - David Seki
- University of ViennaCenter for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem ScienceViennaAustria
- Department of Laboratory MedicineMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - David Berry
- Joint Microbiome FacilityMedical University of Vienna and University of ViennaViennaAustria
- University of ViennaCenter for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem ScienceViennaAustria
| | - Bela Hausmann
- Joint Microbiome FacilityMedical University of Vienna and University of ViennaViennaAustria
- Department of Laboratory MedicineMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Alex Farr
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Obstetrics and Feto‐Maternal MedicineMedical University of Vienna, and Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics (CCP), Medical University of ViennaViennaAustria
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Frerichs NM, de Meij TG, Niemarkt HJ. Microbiome and its impact on fetal and neonatal brain development: current opinion in pediatrics. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 2024; 27:297-303. [PMID: 38488112 PMCID: PMC10990016 DOI: 10.1097/mco.0000000000001028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Emerging evidence suggests that the gut microbiota and its metabolites regulate neurodevelopment and cognitive functioning via a bi-directional communication system known as the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA). RECENT FINDINGS The MGBA influences brain development and function via the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, the vagal nerve, immune signaling, bacterial production of neurotransmitters, and microbial metabolites like short-chain fatty acids, tryptophan derivatives, and bile acids. Animal studies show fetal neurodevelopment is mediated by maternal microbiota derivatives, immune activation, and diet. Furthermore, manipulation of the microbiota during critical windows of development, like antibiotic exposure and fecal microbiota transplantation, can affect cognitive functioning and behavior in mice. Evidence from human studies, particularly in preterm infants, also suggests that a disrupted gut microbiota colonization may negatively affect neurodevelopment. Early microbial signatures were linked to favorable and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. SUMMARY The link between the gut microbiota and the brain is evident. Future studies, including experimental studies, larger participant cohort studies with longitudinal analyses of microbes, their metabolites, and neurotransmitters, and randomized controlled trials are warranted to further elucidate the mechanisms of the MGBA. Identification of early, predictive microbial markers could pave the way for the development of novel early microbiota-based intervention strategies, such as targeted probiotics, and vaginal or fecal microbiota transplantation, aimed at improving infant neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina M. Frerichs
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology Metabolism Research Institute, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Emma Children's Hospital Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Tim G.J. de Meij
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology Metabolism Research Institute, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Emma Children's Hospital Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Hendrik J. Niemarkt
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Máxima Medical Centre, Veldhoven
- Eindhoven University of Technology, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
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Biagioli V, Volpedo G, Riva A, Mainardi P, Striano P. From Birth to Weaning: A Window of Opportunity for Microbiota. Nutrients 2024; 16:272. [PMID: 38257165 PMCID: PMC10819289 DOI: 10.3390/nu16020272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: The first 1000 days of life constitute a critical window of opportunity for microbiota development. Nutrients play a crucial role in enriching and diversifying the microbiota, derived not only from solid food but also from maternal dietary patterns during gestation. (2) Methods: We conducted a comprehensive literature review using the PubMed database, covering eleven years (2013-2023). We included English-language reviews, original research papers, and meta-analyses, while excluding case reports and letters. (3) Results: Consensus in the literature emphasizes that our interaction with a multitude of microorganisms begins in the intrauterine environment and continues throughout our lives. The existing data suggest that early nutritional education programs, initiated during pregnancy and guiding infant diets during development, may influence the shaping of the gut microbiota, promoting long-term health. (4) Conclusions: Further research is necessary in the coming years to assess potential interventions and early nutritional models aimed at modulating the pediatric microbiota, especially in vulnerable populations such as premature newborns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Biagioli
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy; (G.V.); (A.R.); (P.M.); (P.S.)
| | - Greta Volpedo
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy; (G.V.); (A.R.); (P.M.); (P.S.)
| | - Antonella Riva
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy; (G.V.); (A.R.); (P.M.); (P.S.)
| | - Paolo Mainardi
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy; (G.V.); (A.R.); (P.M.); (P.S.)
| | - Pasquale Striano
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy; (G.V.); (A.R.); (P.M.); (P.S.)
- IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genoa, Italy
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Samarra A, Flores E, Bernabeu M, Cabrera-Rubio R, Bäuerl C, Selma-Royo M, Collado MC. Shaping Microbiota During the First 1000 Days of Life. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024; 1449:1-28. [PMID: 39060728 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-58572-2_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Given that the host-microbe interaction is shaped by the immune system response, it is important to understand the key immune system-microbiota relationship during the period from conception to the first years of life. The present work summarizes the available evidence concerning human reproductive microbiota, and also, the microbial colonization during early life, focusing on the potential impact on infant development and health outcomes. Furthermore, we conclude that some dietary strategies including specific probiotics and other-biotics could become potentially valuable tools to modulate the maternal-neonatal microbiota during this early critical window of opportunity for targeted health outcomes throughout the entire lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Samarra
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology-National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), Paterna-Valencia, Spain
| | - Eduard Flores
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology-National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), Paterna-Valencia, Spain
| | - Manuel Bernabeu
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology-National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), Paterna-Valencia, Spain
| | - Raul Cabrera-Rubio
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology-National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), Paterna-Valencia, Spain
| | - Christine Bäuerl
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology-National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), Paterna-Valencia, Spain
| | - Marta Selma-Royo
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology-National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), Paterna-Valencia, Spain
| | - Maria Carmen Collado
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology-National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), Paterna-Valencia, Spain.
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11
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Koren O, Konnikova L, Brodin P, Mysorekar IU, Collado MC. The maternal gut microbiome in pregnancy: implications for the developing immune system. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024; 21:35-45. [PMID: 38097774 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-023-00864-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024]
Abstract
The gut microbiome has important roles in host metabolism and immunity, and microbial dysbiosis affects human physiology and health. Maternal immunity and microbial metabolites during pregnancy, microbial transfer during birth, and transfer of immune factors, microorganisms and metabolites via breastfeeding provide critical sources of early-life microbial and immune training, with important consequences for human health. Only a few studies have directly examined the interactions between the gut microbiome and the immune system during pregnancy, and the subsequent effect on offspring development. In this Review, we aim to describe how the maternal microbiome shapes overall pregnancy-associated maternal, fetal and early neonatal immune systems, focusing on the existing evidence and highlighting current gaps to promote further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omry Koren
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Liza Konnikova
- Department of Paediatrics and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Petter Brodin
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Indira U Mysorekar
- Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Maria Carmen Collado
- Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology-National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), Valencia, Spain.
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12
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Fasano A, Chassaing B, Haller D, Flores Ventura E, Carmen-Collado M, Pastor N, Koren O, Berni Canani R. Microbiota during pregnancy and early life: role in maternal-neonatal outcomes based on human evidence. Gut Microbes 2024; 16:2392009. [PMID: 39161102 PMCID: PMC11340748 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2024.2392009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Here, we explored the vast potential of microbiome-based interventions in preventing and managing non-communicable diseases including obesity, diabetes, allergies, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, malnutrition, and cardiovascular diseases across different life stages. We discuss the intricate relationship between microbiome and non-communicable diseases, emphasizing on the "window of opportunity" for microbe-host interactions during the first years after birth. Specific biotics and also live biotherapeutics including fecal microbiota transplantation emerge as pivotal tools for precision medicine, acknowledging the "one size doesn't' fit all" aspect. Challenges in implementation underscore the need for advanced technologies, scientific transparency, and public engagement. Future perspectives advocate for understanding maternal-neonatal microbiome, exploring the maternal exposome and delving into human milk's role in the establishment and restoration of the infant microbiome and its influence over health and disease. An integrated scientific approach, employing multi-omics and accounting for inter-individual variance in microbiome composition and function appears central to unleash the full potential of early-life microbiome interventions in revolutionizing healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Fasano
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Mass General Brigham, Harvard Medical School, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- European Biomedical Research Institute of Salerno (EBRIS), Salerno, Italy
| | - Benoit Chassaing
- Microbiome-Host Interactions, Institut Pasteur, INSERM, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Mucosal Microbiota in Chronic Inflammatory Diseases, INSERM, CNRS, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Dirk Haller
- Nutrition and Immunology, School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Eduard Flores Ventura
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology – Spanish National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), Valencia, Spain
| | - Maria Carmen-Collado
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology – Spanish National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), Valencia, Spain
| | - Nitida Pastor
- Department of Medical Affairs, Clinical Research, Mead Johnson Nutrition, Evansville, IN, USA
| | - Omry Koren
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Roberto Berni Canani
- Department of Translational Medical Science, and ImmunoNutritionLab at Ceinge Advanced Biotechnologies Research Center, and European Laboratory for Investigation of Food Induced Diseases, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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13
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Chen X, Shi Y. Determinants of microbial colonization in the premature gut. Mol Med 2023; 29:90. [PMID: 37407941 DOI: 10.1186/s10020-023-00689-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Abnormal microbial colonization in the gut at an early stage of life affects growth, development, and health, resulting in short- and long-term adverse effects. Microbial colonization patterns of preterm infants differ from those of full-term infants in that preterm babies and their mothers have more complicated prenatal and postnatal medical conditions. Maternal complications, antibiotic exposure, delivery mode, feeding type, and the use of probiotics may significantly shape the gut microbiota of preterm infants at an early stage of life; however, these influences subside with age. Although some factors and processes are difficult to intervene in or avoid, understanding the potential factors and determinants will help in developing timely strategies for a healthy gut microbiota in preterm infants. This review discusses potential determinants of gut microbial colonization in preterm infants and their underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110000, China
| | - Yongyan Shi
- Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110000, China.
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14
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Fontaine F, Turjeman S, Callens K, Koren O. The intersection of undernutrition, microbiome, and child development in the first years of life. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3554. [PMID: 37322020 PMCID: PMC10272168 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39285-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Undernutrition affects about one out of five children worldwide. It is associated with impaired growth, neurodevelopment deficits, and increased infectious morbidity and mortality. Undernutrition, however, cannot be solely attributed to a lack of food or nutrient deficiency but rather results from a complex mix of biological and environmental factors. Recent research has shown that the gut microbiome is intimately involved in the metabolism of dietary components, in growth, in the training of the immune system, and in healthy development. In this review, we look at these features in the first three years of life, which is a critical window for both microbiome establishment and maturation and child development. We also discuss the potential of the microbiome in undernutrition interventions, which could increase efficacy and improve child health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanette Fontaine
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy
- Université Paris- Cité, 75006, Paris, France
| | - Sondra Turjeman
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Karel Callens
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy
| | - Omry Koren
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel.
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15
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Archer D, Perez-Muñoz ME, Tollenaar S, Veniamin S, Cheng CC, Richard C, Barreda DR, Field CJ, Walter J. The importance of the timing of microbial signals for perinatal immune system development. MICROBIOME RESEARCH REPORTS 2023; 2:11. [PMID: 38047281 PMCID: PMC10688825 DOI: 10.20517/mrr.2023.03] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Background: Development and maturation of the immune system begin in utero and continue throughout the neonatal period. Both the maternal and neonatal gut microbiome influence immune development, but the relative importance of the prenatal and postnatal periods is unclear. Methods: In the present study, we characterized immune cell populations in mice in which the timing of microbiome colonization was strictly controlled using gnotobiotic methodology. Results: Compared to conventional (CONV) mice, germ-free (GF) mice conventionalized at birth (EC mice) showed few differences in immune cell populations in adulthood, explaining only 2.36% of the variation in immune phenotypes. In contrast, delaying conventionalization to the fourth week of life (DC mice) affected seven splenic immune cell populations in adulthood, including dendritic cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs), explaining 29.01% of the variation in immune phenotypes. Early life treatment of DC mice with Limosilactobacillus reuteri restored splenic dendritic cells and Tregs to levels observed in EC mice, and there were strain-specific effects on splenic CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and CD11c+ F4/80+ mononuclear phagocytes. Conclusion: This work demonstrates that the early postnatal period, compared to the prenatal period, is relatively more important for microbial signals to influence immune development in mice. Our findings further show that targeted microbial treatments in early life can redress adverse effects on immune development caused by the delayed acquisition of the neonatal gut microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dale Archer
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Maria Elisa Perez-Muñoz
- Department of Agricultural, Food, and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Stephanie Tollenaar
- Department of Agricultural, Food, and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Simona Veniamin
- Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Christopher C. Cheng
- Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada
- Center of Excellence for Gastrointestinal Inflammation and Immunity Research, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Caroline Richard
- Department of Agricultural, Food, and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Daniel R. Barreda
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada
- Department of Agricultural, Food, and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Catherine J. Field
- Department of Agricultural, Food, and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Jens Walter
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada
- Department of Agricultural, Food, and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada
- APC Microbiome Ireland, School of Microbiology and Department of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork T12 YN60, Ireland
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16
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Campbell C, Kandalgaonkar MR, Golonka RM, Yeoh BS, Vijay-Kumar M, Saha P. Crosstalk between Gut Microbiota and Host Immunity: Impact on Inflammation and Immunotherapy. Biomedicines 2023; 11:294. [PMID: 36830830 PMCID: PMC9953403 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Gut microbes and their metabolites are actively involved in the development and regulation of host immunity, which can influence disease susceptibility. Herein, we review the most recent research advancements in the gut microbiota-immune axis. We discuss in detail how the gut microbiota is a tipping point for neonatal immune development as indicated by newly uncovered phenomenon, such as maternal imprinting, in utero intestinal metabolome, and weaning reaction. We describe how the gut microbiota shapes both innate and adaptive immunity with emphasis on the metabolites short-chain fatty acids and secondary bile acids. We also comprehensively delineate how disruption in the microbiota-immune axis results in immune-mediated diseases, such as gastrointestinal infections, inflammatory bowel diseases, cardiometabolic disorders (e.g., cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and hypertension), autoimmunity (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis), hypersensitivity (e.g., asthma and allergies), psychological disorders (e.g., anxiety), and cancer (e.g., colorectal and hepatic). We further encompass the role of fecal microbiota transplantation, probiotics, prebiotics, and dietary polyphenols in reshaping the gut microbiota and their therapeutic potential. Continuing, we examine how the gut microbiota modulates immune therapies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, JAK inhibitors, and anti-TNF therapies. We lastly mention the current challenges in metagenomics, germ-free models, and microbiota recapitulation to a achieve fundamental understanding for how gut microbiota regulates immunity. Altogether, this review proposes improving immunotherapy efficacy from the perspective of microbiome-targeted interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor Campbell
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| | - Mrunmayee R. Kandalgaonkar
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| | - Rachel M. Golonka
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| | - Beng San Yeoh
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| | - Matam Vijay-Kumar
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| | - Piu Saha
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
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17
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Evrensel A. Microbiome-Induced Autoimmunity and Novel Therapeutic Intervention. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1411:71-90. [PMID: 36949306 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-19-7376-5_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
Microorganisms' flora, which colonize in many parts of our body, stand out as one of the most important components for a healthy life. This microbial organization called microbiome lives in integration with the body as a single and whole organ/system. Perhaps, the human first encounters the microbial activity it carries through the immune system. This encounter and interaction are vital for the development of immune system cells that protect the body against pathogenic organisms and infections throughout life. In recent years, it has been determined that some disruptions in the host-microbiome interaction play an important role in the physiopathology of autoimmune diseases. Although the details of this interaction have not been clarified yet, the focus is on leaky gut syndrome, dysbiosis, toll-like receptor ligands, and B cell dysfunction. Nutritional regulations, prebiotics, probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, bacterial engineering, and vaccination are being investigated as new therapeutic approaches in the treatment of problems in these areas. This article reviews recent research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alper Evrensel
- Department of Psychiatry, Uskudar University, Istanbul, Turkey
- NP Brain Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
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18
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Kennedy KM, de Goffau MC, Perez-Muñoz ME, Arrieta MC, Bäckhed F, Bork P, Braun T, Bushman FD, Dore J, de Vos WM, Earl AM, Eisen JA, Elovitz MA, Ganal-Vonarburg SC, Gänzle MG, Garrett WS, Hall LJ, Hornef MW, Huttenhower C, Konnikova L, Lebeer S, Macpherson AJ, Massey RC, McHardy AC, Koren O, Lawley TD, Ley RE, O'Mahony L, O'Toole PW, Pamer EG, Parkhill J, Raes J, Rattei T, Salonen A, Segal E, Segata N, Shanahan F, Sloboda DM, Smith GCS, Sokol H, Spector TD, Surette MG, Tannock GW, Walker AW, Yassour M, Walter J. Questioning the fetal microbiome illustrates pitfalls of low-biomass microbial studies. Nature 2023; 613:639-649. [PMID: 36697862 PMCID: PMC11333990 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05546-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 132.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Whether the human fetus and the prenatal intrauterine environment (amniotic fluid and placenta) are stably colonized by microbial communities in a healthy pregnancy remains a subject of debate. Here we evaluate recent studies that characterized microbial populations in human fetuses from the perspectives of reproductive biology, microbial ecology, bioinformatics, immunology, clinical microbiology and gnotobiology, and assess possible mechanisms by which the fetus might interact with microorganisms. Our analysis indicates that the detected microbial signals are likely the result of contamination during the clinical procedures to obtain fetal samples or during DNA extraction and DNA sequencing. Furthermore, the existence of live and replicating microbial populations in healthy fetal tissues is not compatible with fundamental concepts of immunology, clinical microbiology and the derivation of germ-free mammals. These conclusions are important to our understanding of human immune development and illustrate common pitfalls in the microbial analyses of many other low-biomass environments. The pursuit of a fetal microbiome serves as a cautionary example of the challenges of sequence-based microbiome studies when biomass is low or absent, and emphasizes the need for a trans-disciplinary approach that goes beyond contamination controls by also incorporating biological, ecological and mechanistic concepts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M Kennedy
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marcus C de Goffau
- Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Maria Elisa Perez-Muñoz
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Marie-Claire Arrieta
- International Microbiome Center, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Fredrik Bäckhed
- The Wallenberg Laboratory, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Physiology, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Peer Bork
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Max Delbrück Centre for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- Yonsei Frontier Lab (YFL), Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Braun
- Department of Obstetrics and Experimental Obstetrics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Frederic D Bushman
- Department of Microbiology Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Joel Dore
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, MetaGenoPolis, AgroParisTech, MICALIS, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Willem M de Vos
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ashlee M Earl
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jonathan A Eisen
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- UC Davis Genome Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Michal A Elovitz
- Maternal and Child Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Stephanie C Ganal-Vonarburg
- Universitätsklinik für Viszerale Chirurgie und Medizin, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for Biomedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Michael G Gänzle
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Wendy S Garrett
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard T.H. Chan Microbiome in Public Health Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine and Division of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Lindsay J Hall
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
- Chair of Intestinal Microbiome, ZIEL-Institute for Food and Health, School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Mathias W Hornef
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, RWTH University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
| | - Curtis Huttenhower
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Liza Konnikova
- Departments of Pediatrics and Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Sarah Lebeer
- Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Andrew J Macpherson
- Department for Biomedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ruth C Massey
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Alice Carolyn McHardy
- Computational Biology of Infection Research, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hannover Braunschweig site, Braunschweig, Germany
- Braunschweig Integrated Centre of Systems Biology (BRICS), Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Omry Koren
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Trevor D Lawley
- Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ruth E Ley
- Department of Microbiome Science, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Liam O'Mahony
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- Department of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Paul W O'Toole
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Eric G Pamer
- Duchossois Family Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Julian Parkhill
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jeroen Raes
- VIB Center for Microbiology, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Thomas Rattei
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anne Salonen
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Eran Segal
- Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Nicola Segata
- Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO), IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Fergus Shanahan
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- Department of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Deborah M Sloboda
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gordon C S Smith
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Harry Sokol
- Gastroenterology Department, AP-HP, Saint Antoine Hospital, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, CRSA, INSERM and Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- Paris Center for Microbiome Medicine (PaCeMM), Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire, Paris, France
- Micalis Institute, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy en Josas, France
| | - Tim D Spector
- Department of Twin Research, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Michael G Surette
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gerald W Tannock
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Alan W Walker
- Gut Health Group, Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Moran Yassour
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, IMRIC, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Jens Walter
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
- Department of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
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19
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Jiang Q, Li T, Chen W, Huo Y, Mou X, Zhao W. Microbial regulation of offspring diseases mediated by maternal-associated microbial metabolites. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:955297. [PMID: 36406399 PMCID: PMC9672376 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.955297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The microbiota plays a crucial role in individuals’ early and long-term health. Previous studies indicated that the microbial regulation of health may start before birth. As the in utero environment is (nearly) sterile, the regulation is probably be originated from maternal microbiota and mediated by their metabolites transferred across the placenta. After the birth, various metabolites are continuously delivered to offspring through human milk feeding. Meanwhile, some components, for example, human milk oligosaccharides, in human milk can only be fermented by microbes, which brings beneficial effects on offspring health. Hence, we speculated that human milk-derived metabolites may also play roles in microbial regulation. However, reports between maternal-associated microbial metabolites and offspring diseases are still lacking and sparsely distributed in several fields. Also, the definition of the maternal-associated microbial metabolite is still unclear. Thus, it would be beneficial to comb through the current knowledge of these metabolites related to diseases for assisting our goals of early prediction, early diagnosis, early prevention, or early treatment through actions only on mothers. Therefore, this review aims to present studies showing how researchers came to the path of investigating these metabolites and then to present studies linking them to the development of offspring asthma, type 1 diabetes mellitus, food allergy, neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis, or autism spectrum disorder. Potential English articles were collected from PubMed by searching terms of disease(s), maternal, and a list of microbial metabolites. Articles published within 5 years were preferred.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingru Jiang
- Center for Infection and Immunity Studies, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tian Li
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Center for Infection and Immunity Studies, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yingfang Huo
- Center for Infection and Immunity Studies, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiangyu Mou
- Center for Infection and Immunity Studies, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Xiangyu Mou,
| | - Wenjing Zhao
- Center for Infection and Immunity Studies, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
- *Correspondence: Wenjing Zhao,
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20
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Biazzo M, Allegra M, Deidda G. Clostridioides difficile and neurological disorders: New perspectives. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:946601. [PMID: 36203814 PMCID: PMC9530032 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.946601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite brain physiological functions or pathological dysfunctions relying on the activity of neuronal/non-neuronal populations, over the last decades a plethora of evidence unraveled the essential contribution of the microbial populations living and residing within the gut, called gut microbiota. The gut microbiota plays a role in brain (dys)functions, and it will become a promising valuable therapeutic target for several brain pathologies. In the present mini-review, after a brief overview of the role of gut microbiota in normal brain physiology and pathology, we focus on the role of the bacterium Clostridioides difficile, a pathogen responsible for recurrent and refractory infections, in people with neurological diseases, summarizing recent correlative and causative evidence in the scientific literature and highlighting the potential of microbiota-based strategies targeting this pathogen to ameliorate not only gastrointestinal but also the neurological symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuele Biazzo
- The BioArte Limited, Life Sciences Park, San Gwann, Malta
- SienabioACTIVE, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Manuela Allegra
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (IN-CNR), Padua, Italy
| | - Gabriele Deidda
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- *Correspondence: Gabriele Deidda
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21
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Maternal Microbiota Modulate a Fragile X-like Syndrome in Offspring Mice. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13081409. [PMID: 36011319 PMCID: PMC9407566 DOI: 10.3390/genes13081409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal microbial dysbiosis has been implicated in adverse postnatal health conditions in offspring, such as obesity, cancer, and neurological disorders. We observed that the progeny of mice fed a Westernized diet (WD) with low fiber and extra fat exhibited higher frequencies of stereotypy, hyperactivity, cranial features and lower FMRP protein expression, similar to what is typically observed in Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) in humans. We hypothesized that gut dysbiosis and inflammation during pregnancy influenced the prenatal uterine environment, leading to abnormal phenotypes in offspring. We found that oral in utero supplementation with a beneficial anti-inflammatory probiotic microbe, Lactobacillus reuteri, was sufficient to inhibit FXS-like phenotypes in offspring mice. Cytokine profiles in the pregnant WD females showed that their circulating levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (Il)-17 were increased relative to matched gravid mice and to those given supplementary L. reuteri probiotic. To test our hypothesis of prenatal contributions to this neurodevelopmental phenotype, we performed Caesarian (C-section) births using dissimilar foster mothers to eliminate effects of maternal microbiota transferred during vaginal delivery or nursing after birth. We found that foster-reared offspring still displayed a high frequency of these FXS-like features, indicating significant in utero contributions. In contrast, matched foster-reared progeny of L. reuteri-treated mothers did not exhibit the FXS-like typical features, supporting a key role for microbiota during pregnancy. Our findings suggest that diet-induced dysbiosis in the prenatal uterine environment is strongly associated with the incidence of this neurological phenotype in progeny but can be alleviated by addressing gut dysbiosis through probiotic supplementation.
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22
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Yang Z, Liu X, Wu Y, Peng J, Wei H. Effect of the Microbiome on Intestinal Innate Immune Development in Early Life and the Potential Strategy of Early Intervention. Front Immunol 2022; 13:936300. [PMID: 35928828 PMCID: PMC9344006 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.936300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Early life is a vital period for mammals to be colonized with the microbiome, which profoundly influences the development of the intestinal immune function. For neonates to resist pathogen infection and avoid gastrointestinal illness, the intestinal innate immune system is critical. Thus, this review summarizes the development of the intestinal microbiome and the intestinal innate immune barrier, including the intestinal epithelium and immune cells from the fetal to the weaning period. Moreover, the impact of the intestinal microbiome on innate immune development and the two main way of early-life intervention including probiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) also are discussed in this review. We hope to highlight the crosstalk between early microbial colonization and intestinal innate immunity development and offer some information for early intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhipeng Yang
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiangchen Liu
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanting Wu
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jian Peng
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, China
| | - Hongkui Wei
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, China
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23
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Abstract
At birth, neonates provide a vast habitat awaiting microbial colonization. Microbiome assembly is a complex process involving microbial seeding and succession driven by ecological forces and subject to environmental conditions. These successional events not only significantly affect the ecology and function of the microbiome, but also impact host health. While the establishment of the infant microbiome has been a point of interest for decades, an integrated view focusing on strain level colonization has been lacking until recently. Technological and computational advancements enabling strain-level analyses of the infant microbiome have demonstrated the immense complexity of this system and allowed for an improved understanding of how strains of the same species spread, colonize, evolve, and affect the host. Here, we review the current knowledge of the establishment and maturation of the infant gut microbiome with particular emphasis on newer discoveries achieved through strain-centric analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hagay Enav
- Department of Microbiome Science, Max Planck Institute for Biology, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Fredrik Bäckhed
- The Wallenberg Laboratory, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Department of Clinical Physiology, Gothenburg, Sweden; Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ruth E Ley
- Department of Microbiome Science, Max Planck Institute for Biology, Tübingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence EXC 2124 Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections, Tübingen, Germany.
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24
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Winters AD, Romero R, Greenberg JM, Galaz J, Shaffer ZD, Garcia-Flores V, Kracht DJ, Gomez-Lopez N, Theis KR. Does the Amniotic Fluid of Mice Contain a Viable Microbiota? Front Immunol 2022; 13:820366. [PMID: 35296083 PMCID: PMC8920496 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.820366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The existence of an amniotic fluid microbiota (i.e., a viable microbial community) in mammals is controversial. Its existence would require a fundamental reconsideration of fetal in utero exposure to and colonization by microorganisms and the role of intra-amniotic microorganisms in fetal immune development as well as in pregnancy outcomes. In this study, we determined whether the amniotic fluid of mice harbors a microbiota in late gestation. The profiles of the amniotic fluids of pups located proximally or distally to the cervix were characterized through quantitative real-time PCR, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and culture (N = 21 dams). These profiles were compared to those of technical controls for bacterial and DNA contamination. The load of 16S rRNA genes in the amniotic fluid exceeded that in controls. Additionally, the 16S rRNA gene profiles of the amniotic fluid differed from those of controls, with Corynebacterium tuberculostearicum being differentially more abundant in amniotic fluid profiles; however, this bacterium was not cultured from amniotic fluid. Of the 42 attempted bacterial cultures of amniotic fluids, only one yielded bacterial growth – Lactobacillus murinus. The 16S rRNA gene of this common murine-associated bacterium was not detected in any amniotic fluid sample, suggesting it did not originate from the amniotic fluid. No differences in the 16S rRNA gene load, 16S rRNA gene profile, or bacterial culture were observed between the amniotic fluids located Proximally and distally to the cervix. Collectively, these data indicate that, although there is a modest DNA signal of bacteria in murine amniotic fluid, there is no evidence that this signal represents a viable microbiota. While this means that amniotic fluid is not a source of microorganisms for in utero colonization in mice, it may nevertheless contribute to fetal exposure to microbial components. The developmental consequences of this observation warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D. Winters
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, United States
- Perinatal Research Initiative in Maternal, Perinatal and Child Health, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
- Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Jonathan M. Greenberg
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Jose Galaz
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Zachary D. Shaffer
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
- MD/PhD Combined Degree Program, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Valeria Garcia-Flores
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - David J. Kracht
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, United States
- Perinatal Research Initiative in Maternal, Perinatal and Child Health, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
- *Correspondence: Kevin R. Theis, ; Nardhy Gomez-Lopez,
| | - Kevin R. Theis
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI, United States
- Perinatal Research Initiative in Maternal, Perinatal and Child Health, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
- *Correspondence: Kevin R. Theis, ; Nardhy Gomez-Lopez,
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25
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Toothaker JM, Olaloye O, McCourt BT, McCourt CC, Silva TN, Case RM, Liu P, Yimlamai D, Tseng G, Konnikova L. Immune landscape of human placental villi using single-cell analysis. Development 2022; 149:274057. [PMID: 35050308 PMCID: PMC8935213 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Maintenance of a healthy pregnancy is reliant on a successful balance between the fetal and maternal immune systems. Although the maternal mechanisms responsible have been well studied, those used by the fetal immune system remain poorly understood. Using suspension mass cytometry and various imaging modalities, we report a complex immune system within the mid-gestation (17-23 weeks) human placental villi (PV). Consistent with recent reports in other fetal organs, T cells with memory phenotypes, although rare in abundance, were detected within the PV tissue and vasculature. Moreover, we determined that T cells isolated from PV samples may be more proliferative after T cell receptor stimulation than adult T cells at baseline. Collectively, we identified multiple subtypes of fetal immune cells within the PV and specifically highlight the enhanced proliferative capacity of fetal PV T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica M. Toothaker
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA,Department of Pediatrics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | | | - Blake T. McCourt
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Collin C. McCourt
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Tatiana N. Silva
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Rebecca M. Case
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Peng Liu
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Dean Yimlamai
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - George Tseng
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Liza Konnikova
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA,Department of Pediatrics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06519, USA,Program in Human and Translational Immunology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06519, USA,Author for correspondence ()
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26
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Chen C, Tang P, Liang J, Huang D, Pan D, Lin M, Wu L, Wei H, Huang H, Sheng Y, Song Y, Wei B, Liao Q, Liu S, Qiu X. Association between Intrauterine Microbiome and Risk of Intrauterine Growth Restriction: A Case-Control Study Based on Guangxi Zhuang Birth Cohort in China. TOHOKU J EXP MED 2022; 258:11-21. [DOI: 10.1620/tjem.2022.j033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chenchun Chen
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University
| | - Peng Tang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University
| | - Jun Liang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University
| | - Dongping Huang
- Department of Sanitary Chemistry, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University
| | - Dongxiang Pan
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University
| | - Mengrui Lin
- Department of Sanitary Chemistry, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University
| | - Li Wu
- Department of Sanitary Chemistry, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University
| | - Huanni Wei
- Department of Sanitary Chemistry, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University
| | - Huishen Huang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University
| | - Yonghong Sheng
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University
| | - Yanye Song
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University
| | - Bincai Wei
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University
| | - Qian Liao
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University
| | - Shun Liu
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health & Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University
| | - Xiaoqiang Qiu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University
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27
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Kennedy KM, Bellissimo CJ, Breznik JA, Barrett J, Braun T, Bushman FD, De Goffau M, Elovitz MA, Heimesaat MM, Konnikova L, Koren O, Parry S, Rossi L, Segata N, Simmons RA, Surette MG, Walter J, Sloboda DM. Over-celling fetal microbial exposure. Cell 2021; 184:5839-5841. [PMID: 34822779 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M Kennedy
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Christian J Bellissimo
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Jessica A Breznik
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Jon Barrett
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Thorsten Braun
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Obstetrics and 'Experimental Obstetrics', Berlin, Germany
| | - Frederic D Bushman
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Marcus De Goffau
- Department of Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Michal A Elovitz
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Maternal and Child Health Research Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Markus M Heimesaat
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Obstetrics and 'Experimental Obstetrics', Berlin, Germany; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Micro-biology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Liza Konnikova
- Department of Pediatrics, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Human and Translational Immunology, Yale Medical School, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Omry Koren
- The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Samuel Parry
- Maternal and Child Health Research Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Laura Rossi
- Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Nicola Segata
- Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Rebecca A Simmons
- Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Division of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Michael G Surette
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Jens Walter
- APC Microbiome Ireland, School of Microbiology and Department of Medicine, University College Cork - National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland
| | - Deborah M Sloboda
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
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28
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Cariño R, Takayasu L, Suda W, Masuoka H, Hirayama K, Konishi S, Umezaki M. The search for aliens within us: a review of evidence and theory regarding the foetal microbiome. Crit Rev Microbiol 2021; 48:611-623. [PMID: 34788162 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2021.1999903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The microbiome is believed to be established during the birthing process through exposure to the maternal microbiome and immediate external environment. The absence of a microbiome prior to birth is based on the sterile womb hypothesis, which was formulated at the beginning of the 20th century and is supported primarily by the culture-based approach in microbiological studies.Findings of bacterial presence in products of fertilization such as the placenta, amniotic fluid, foetal membranes, and umbilical cord blood in studies using next-generation DNA sequencing technologies began to challenge the sterile nature of the intrauterine environment during gestation. These studies have been mainly criticized by their approach to contamination and inconclusive evidence of viability. The implications of bacterial presence in utero are far reaching in medicine and basic sciences. If commensal bacteria exist in the foetus, antibiotic therapies in pregnancy particularly for asymptomatic cases will need to be re-evaluated. Experimental studies utilizing gnotobiology may also be impacted by a realignment of theory.This review of existing literature aims to provide insight into the existence of bacteria in utero, specifically the foetal microbiome through analysis of experimental evidence and theoretical concepts, and to suggest approaches that may further provide clarity into this inquiry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Cariño
- Department of Human Ecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Lena Takayasu
- Department of Human Ecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Laboratory for Microbiome Sciences, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Wataru Suda
- Laboratory for Microbiome Sciences, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Masuoka
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Hirayama
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shoko Konishi
- Department of Human Ecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masahiro Umezaki
- Department of Human Ecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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29
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Deidda G, Biazzo M. Gut and Brain: Investigating Physiological and Pathological Interactions Between Microbiota and Brain to Gain New Therapeutic Avenues for Brain Diseases. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:753915. [PMID: 34712115 PMCID: PMC8545893 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.753915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain physiological functions or pathological dysfunctions do surely depend on the activity of both neuronal and non-neuronal populations. Nevertheless, over the last decades, compelling and fast accumulating evidence showed that the brain is not alone. Indeed, the so-called "gut brain," composed of the microbial populations living in the gut, forms a symbiotic superorganism weighing as the human brain and strongly communicating with the latter via the gut-brain axis. The gut brain does exert a control on brain (dys)functions and it will eventually become a promising valuable therapeutic target for a number of brain pathologies. In the present review, we will first describe the role of gut microbiota in normal brain physiology from neurodevelopment till adulthood, and thereafter we will discuss evidence from the literature showing how gut microbiota alterations are a signature in a number of brain pathologies ranging from neurodevelopmental to neurodegenerative disorders, and how pre/probiotic supplement interventions aimed to correct the altered dysbiosis in pathological conditions may represent a valuable future therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Deidda
- The BioArte Limited, Life Sciences Park, San Gwann, Malta
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
| | - Manuele Biazzo
- The BioArte Limited, Life Sciences Park, San Gwann, Malta
- SienabioACTIVE, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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30
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Gars A, Ronczkowski NM, Chassaing B, Castillo-Ruiz A, Forger NG. First Encounters: Effects of the Microbiota on Neonatal Brain Development. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:682505. [PMID: 34168540 PMCID: PMC8217657 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.682505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The microbiota plays important roles in host metabolism and immunity, and its disruption affects adult brain physiology and behavior. Although such findings have been attributed to altered neurodevelopment, few studies have actually examined microbiota effects on the developing brain. This review focuses on developmental effects of the earliest exposure to microbes. At birth, the mammalian fetus enters a world teeming with microbes which colonize all body sites in contact with the environment. Bacteria reach the gut within a few hours of birth and cause a measurable response in the intestinal epithelium. In adults, the gut microbiota signals to the brain via the vagus nerve, bacterial metabolites, hormones, and immune signaling, and work in perinatal rodents is beginning to elucidate which of these signaling pathways herald the very first encounter with gut microbes in the neonate. Neural effects of the microbiota during the first few days of life include changes in neuronal cell death, microglia, and brain cytokine levels. In addition to these effects of direct exposure of the newborn to microbes, accumulating evidence points to a role for the maternal microbiota in affecting brain development via bacterial molecules and metabolites while the offspring is still in utero. Hence, perturbations to microbial exposure perinatally, such as through C-section delivery or antibiotic treatment, alter microbiota colonization and may have long-term neural consequences. The perinatal period is critical for brain development and a close look at microbiota effects during this time promises to reveal the earliest, most primary effects of the microbiota on neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aviva Gars
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | | | - Benoit Chassaing
- INSERM U1016, Team "Mucosal Microbiota in Chronic Inflammatory Diseases", CNRS UMR 8104, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | | | - Nancy G Forger
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Kalbermatter C, Fernandez Trigo N, Christensen S, Ganal-Vonarburg SC. Maternal Microbiota, Early Life Colonization and Breast Milk Drive Immune Development in the Newborn. Front Immunol 2021; 12:683022. [PMID: 34054875 PMCID: PMC8158941 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.683022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The innate immune system is the oldest protection strategy that is conserved across all organisms. Although having an unspecific action, it is the first and fastest defense mechanism against pathogens. Development of predominantly the adaptive immune system takes place after birth. However, some key components of the innate immune system evolve during the prenatal period of life, which endows the newborn with the ability to mount an immune response against pathogenic invaders directly after birth. Undoubtedly, the crosstalk between maternal immune cells, antibodies, dietary antigens, and microbial metabolites originating from the maternal microbiota are the key players in preparing the neonate’s immunity to the outer world. Birth represents the biggest substantial environmental change in life, where the newborn leaves the protective amniotic sac and is exposed for the first time to a countless variety of microbes. Colonization of all body surfaces commences, including skin, lung, and gastrointestinal tract, leading to the establishment of the commensal microbiota and the maturation of the newborn immune system, and hence lifelong health. Pregnancy, birth, and the consumption of breast milk shape the immune development in coordination with maternal and newborn microbiota. Discrepancies in these fine-tuned microbiota interactions during each developmental stage can have long-term effects on disease susceptibility, such as metabolic syndrome, childhood asthma, or autoimmune type 1 diabetes. In this review, we will give an overview of the recent studies by discussing the multifaceted emergence of the newborn innate immune development in line with the importance of maternal and early life microbiota exposure and breast milk intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Kalbermatter
- Universitätsklinik für Viszerale Chirurgie und Medizin, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nerea Fernandez Trigo
- Universitätsklinik für Viszerale Chirurgie und Medizin, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sandro Christensen
- Universitätsklinik für Viszerale Chirurgie und Medizin, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stephanie C Ganal-Vonarburg
- Universitätsklinik für Viszerale Chirurgie und Medizin, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Silverstein RB, Mysorekar IU. Group therapy on in utero colonization: seeking common truths and a way forward. MICROBIOME 2021; 9:7. [PMID: 33436100 PMCID: PMC7805186 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-020-00968-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The human microbiome refers to the genetic composition of microorganisms in a particular location in the human body. Emerging evidence over the past many years suggests that the microbiome constitute drivers of human fate almost at par with our genome and epigenome. It is now well accepted after decades of disbelief that a broad understanding of human development, health, physiology, and disease requires understanding of the microbiome along with the genome and epigenome. We are learning daily of the interdependent relationships between microbiome/microbiota and immune responses, mood, cancer progression, response to therapies, aging, obesity, antibiotic usage, and overusage and much more. The next frontier in microbiome field is understanding when does this influence begin? Does the human microbiome initiate at the time of birth or are developing human fetuses already primed with microbes and their products in utero. In this commentary, we reflect on evidence gathered thus far on this question and identify the unknown common truths. We present a way forward to continue understanding our microbial colleagues and our interwoven fates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel B Silverstein
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Indira U Mysorekar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
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Walter J, Hornef MW. A philosophical perspective on the prenatal in utero microbiome debate. MICROBIOME 2021; 9:5. [PMID: 33436093 PMCID: PMC7805158 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-020-00979-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Within the last 6 years, a research field has emerged that focuses on the characterization of microbial communities in the prenatal intrauterine environment of humans and their putative role in human health. However, there is considerable controversy around the existence of such microbial populations. The often contentious debate is primarily focused on technical aspects of the research, such as difficulties to assure aseptic sampling and to differentiate legitimate signals in the data from contamination. Although such discussions are clearly important, we feel that the problems with the prenatal microbiome field go deeper. In this commentary, we apply a philosophical framework to evaluate the foundations, experimental approaches, and interpretations used by scientists on both sides of the debate. We argue that the evidence for a "sterile womb" is based on a scientific approach that aligns well with important principles of the philosophy of science as genuine tests of the hypothesis and multiple angles of explanatory considerations were applied. In contrast, research in support of the "in utero colonization hypothesis" is solely based on descriptive verifications that do not provide explanatory insight, which weakens the evidence for a prenatal intrauterine microbiome. We propose that a reflection on philosophical principles can inform not only the debate on the prenatal intrauterine microbiome but also other disciplines that attempt to study low-biomass microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Walter
- APC Microbiome Ireland, School of Microbiology and Department of Medicine, University College Cork - National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Mathias W Hornef
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
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Soderborg TK, Carpenter CM, Janssen RC, Weir TL, Robertson CE, Ir D, Young BE, Krebs NF, Hernandez TL, Barbour LA, Frank DN, Kroehl M, Friedman JE. Gestational Diabetes Is Uniquely Associated With Altered Early Seeding of the Infant Gut Microbiota. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:603021. [PMID: 33329403 PMCID: PMC7729132 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.603021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a worldwide public health problem affecting up to 27% of pregnancies with high predictive values for childhood obesity and inflammatory diseases. Compromised seeding of the infant gut microbiota is a risk factor for immunologic and metabolic diseases in the offspring; however, how GDM along with maternal obesity interact to alter colonization remains unknown. We hypothesized that GDM individually and in combination with maternal overweight/obesity would alter gut microbial composition, diversity, and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels in neonates. We investigated 46 full-term neonates born to normal-weight or overweight/obese mothers with and without GDM, accounting for confounders including cesarean delivery, lack of breastfeeding, and exposure to antibiotics. Gut microbiota in 2-week-old neonates born to mothers with GDM exhibited differences in abundance of 26 microbial taxa; 14 of which showed persistent differential abundance after adjusting for pre-pregnancy BMI. Key pioneering gut taxa, including potentially important taxa for establishing neonatal immunity, were reduced. Lactobacillus, Flavonifractor, Erysipelotrichaceae, and unspecified families in Gammaproteobacteria were significantly reduced in neonates from mothers with GDM. GDM was associated with an increase in microbes involved in suppressing early immune cell function (Phascolarctobacterium). No differences in infant stool SCFA levels by maternal phenotype were noted; however, significant correlations were found between microbial abundances and SCFA levels in neonates. Our results suggest that GDM alone and together with maternal overweight/obesity uniquely influences seeding of specific infant microbiota in patterns that set the stage for future risk of inflammatory and metabolic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor K. Soderborg
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Charles M. Carpenter
- Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Rachel C. Janssen
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Tiffany L. Weir
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Charles E. Robertson
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Diana Ir
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Bridget E. Young
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Nutrition, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Nancy F. Krebs
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Nutrition, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Teri L. Hernandez
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- College of Nursing, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Linda A. Barbour
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Daniel N. Frank
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Miranda Kroehl
- Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Jacob E. Friedman
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
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