Cited by 414Gut microbiota and healthLiver Diseases and ImmunityInflammatory Bowel Disease

Primary sclerosing cholangitis is characterised by intestinal dysbiosis independent from IBD

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Sabino, João, Vieira-Silva, Sara, Machiels, Kathleen, Joossens, Marie, Falony, Gwen, Ballet, Vera, Ferrante, Marc, Van Assche, Gert +3 more·2016·Gut

Abstract

Objective: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease often leading to end-stage liver disease. Its pathogenesis remains largely unknown, although frequent concomitant IBD hints towards common factors underlying gut and bile duct inflammation. Considering the mounting evidence on the involvement of the intestinal microbiota in initiating and determining IBD phenotype, we investigated intestinal microbiota composition in patients with PSC. Design: Stool samples were collected from 147 individuals (52 patients with PSC, 52 age, gender and body mass index-matched healthy volunteers, 13 UC and 30 patients with Crohn's disease). An independent validation cohort of 14 PSC and 14 matched controls was recruited. 16S rDNA sequencing of faecal DNA was performed (Illumina MiSeq). Results: The microbiota of patients with PSC was characterised by decreased microbiota diversity, and a significant overrepresentation of Enterococcus (p=3.76e-05), Fusobacterium (p=3.76e-05) and Lactobacillus (p=0.0002) genera. This dysbiosis was present in patients with PSC with and without concomitant IBD and was distinct from IBD, and independent of treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid. A decision tree based on abundances of these three genera allowed reliable classification in the validation cohort. In particular, one operational taxonomic unit belonging to the Enterococcus genus was associated with increased levels of serum alkaline phosphatase (p=0.048), a marker of disease severity. Conclusions: We here present the first report of PSC-associated faecal dysbiosis, independent from IBD signatures, suggesting the intestinal microbiota could be a contributing factor in PSC pathogenesis. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and assess causality.

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Crossref · 10.1136/gutjnl-2015-311004

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  • Recent studies support an association between changes in the microbiome and the progression of cholestatic liver disease in patients.

    “Recent studies have further supported the association between changes in the microbiome and the progression of cholestatic liver disease in patients9–14.”
  • Changes at genera level in cholestatic patients differ among studies and include enrichment in Veillonella, Akkermansia, Ruminococcaceae (undefined genus) and Clostridium and decrease in Prevotella.

    “The changes described at genera level differ among studies9–12 and include the enrichment in Veillonella, Akkermansia, Ruminococcaceae (undefined genus) and Clostridium9 and the decrease in Prevotella10, overall supporting the association between changes in the microbiome and cholestatic disease.”
  • Recent studies described that cholestatic patients with PSC have an overall less diverse microbiome composition.

    “Recent studies described that cholestatic patients with PSC have an overall less diverse microbiome composition.”

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Authors
Sabino, J., Vieira-Silva, S., Machiels, K., Joossens, M., Falony, G., Ballet, V., Ferrante, M., Van Assche, G., Van der Merwe, S., Vermeire, S., & Raes, J.
Affiliations
  • KU Leuven (BE)
  • Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Laboratory of Molecular Bacteriology, KU Leuven—University of Leuven, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium
  • Vrije Universiteit Brussel (BE)
  • Rega Institute for Medical Research (BE)
  • Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
  • Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Center for the Biology of Disease, REGA institute, KU Leuven—VIB, Leuven, Belgium
Corresponding author
Raes, Jeroen
Venue
Gut
Publisher
BMJ
Published
2016-05-20
Volume
65
Issue
10
Pages
1681-1689
ISSN
  • 0017-5749 (ISSN-L)
  • 1468-3288
OpenAlex
W2408052000
Cited by
413
References
40
Citations by year
2026: 28 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 46 · 2023: 46 · 2022: 42 · 2021: 52 · 2020: 44 · 2019: 45 · 2018: 33 · 2017: 34 · 2016: 13
FWCI
21.65
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc
Locations
  • Gut (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Lirias (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (submittedVersion)
  • Digital Access to Libraries (submittedVersion)
  • HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
  • KU Leuven
  • Vlaamse regering
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Hepatology › Liver Diseases and Immunity
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Keywords
primary sclerosing cholangitis, gut dysbiosis, gut microbiota, inflammatory bowel disease, Enterococcus, Fusobacterium, Lactobacillus, microbiome diversity, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, ursodeoxycholic acid, alkaline phosphatase, disease severity
MeSH terms
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Adult, Aged, Alkaline Phosphatase, Biopsy, Cholagogues and Choleretics, Colonoscopy, Feces, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Severity of Illness Index, Statistics as Topic, Ursodeoxycholic Acid, Cholangitis, Sclerosing, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Enterococcus, Dysbiosis

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