Cited by 346Gut microbiota and healthParkinson's Disease Mechanisms and TreatmentsOral microbiology and periodontitis research

Metagenomics of Parkinson’s disease implicates the gut microbiome in multiple disease mechanisms

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Wallen, Zachary D., Demirkan, Ayse, Twa, Guy, Cohen, Gwendolyn, Dean, Marissa N., Standaert, David G., Sampson, Timothy R., Payami, Haydeh·2022·Nature Communications

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Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) may start in the gut and spread to the brain. To investigate the role of gut microbiome, we conducted a large-scale study, at high taxonomic resolution, using uniform standardized methods from start to end. We enrolled 490 PD and 234 control individuals, conducted deep shotgun sequencing of fecal DNA, followed by metagenome-wide association studies requiring significance by two methods (ANCOM-BC and MaAsLin2) to declare disease association, network analysis to identify polymicrobial clusters, and functional profiling. Here we show that over 30% of species, genes and pathways tested have altered abundances in PD, depicting a widespread dysbiosis. PD-associated species form polymicrobial clusters that grow or shrink together, and some compete. PD microbiome is disease permissive, evidenced by overabundance of pathogens and immunogenic components, dysregulated neuroactive signaling, preponderance of molecules that induce alpha-synuclein pathology, and over-production of toxicants; with the reduction in anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective factors limiting the capacity to recover. We validate, in human PD, findings that were observed in experimental models; reconcile and resolve human PD microbiome literature; and provide a broad foundation with a wealth of concrete testable hypotheses to discern the role of the gut microbiome in PD.

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  • A recent metagenomic analysis of the PD gut microbiome revealed a reduction in glutamate/glutamine synthesis genes and pathways, along with an increase in the glutamate degradation pathway.

    “a recent metagenomic analysis of PD gut microbiome revealed a reduction in glutamate/glutamine synthesis genes and pathways, along with an increase in glutamate degradation pathway.”
  • Gene families involved in TMA production were elevated in the PD gut microbiome, leading to increased choline metabolism and subsequent TMA production.

    “the gene families involved in TMA production were found to be elevated in the PD gut microbiome, leading to increased choline metabolism and subsequent TMA production.”

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Authors
Wallen, Z. D., Demirkan, A., Twa, G., Cohen, G., Dean, M. N., Standaert, D. G., Sampson, T. R., & Payami, H.
Affiliations
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham (US)
  • Emory University (US)
Corresponding author
Payami, Haydeh
Venue
Nature Communications
Published
2022-11-15
Volume
13
Issue
1
Pages
6958-6958
ISSN
2041-1723 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4309109636
Cited by
346
References
78
Citations by year
2026: 97 · 2025: 99 · 2024: 90 · 2023: 57 · 2022: 3
FWCI
20.33
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Communications (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Parkinson's Foundation (PF-SF-JFA-830658)
  • United States Department of Defense | United States Army | Army Medical Command | Medical Research and Materiel Command (W81XWH1810508)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
  • Health Sciences › Dentistry › Periodontics › Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
Keywords
Parkinson's disease, gut microbiota, dysbiosis, metagenome-wide association study, alpha-synuclein pathology, neuroinflammation, neuroprotective factors, fecal microbiota
MeSH terms
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Humans, Parkinson Disease, Metagenome, Metagenomics, Dysbiosis

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