Compare the Effect of Inhaled Corticosteroids and Systemic Corticosteroids on Sputum Microbiome of AECOPD

Abstract

Background: To observe the effects of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and systemic corticosteroids (SCS) on the sputum microbiology of patients with AECOPD.Methods: The 16S rRNA sequencing results for sputum samples from 36 admitted AECOPD patients were analyzed using ICS or SCS on the basis of standard treatment; sputum samples were collected before and after treatment for 1 day, 7, and 14 days.Results: After 7 days of SCS treatment, the bacterial abundance of Sorangium, Acidibacter, and Fretibacterium decreased at the genus level. After 14 days of SCS treatment, the bacterial abundance of Prevotella_2, Bergeyella, Corynebacterium_1, and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014 was decreased at the genus level, and an increase in the bacterial abundance of the Clostridiales_vadinBB60_group was observed at the family level. The linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) algorithm showed that after treatment for 14 days, Sphingobacterium increased in the SCS group, and Corynebacterium_1 (genus level), Bacillales (order level), and Lactobacillales (order level) decreased in the ICS group. However, the abundance of the above bacteria in each group of samples was <1%, suggesting that the two treatments may have similar effects on bacterial abundance. Alpha diversity analysis results showed that there was no significant difference in the ACE index, Chao1 index, Shannon index, or Simpson index between the ICS group and the SCS group. Beta diversity analysis showed that there was little difference in bacterial diversity among each group. BugBase predicted that although bacteria containing mobile elements in the SCS group decreased significantly compared with those in patients using ICS after treatment for 14 days, these two treatments had similar effects on other phenotype categories assigned to the bacterial contents.Conclusions: Our results show that ICS and SCS have remarkably similar effects on the sputum microbiome of AECOPD patients.

Characteristics of the sputum microbiome in COPD exacerbations and correlations between clinical indices

“…In our study, the most dominant phylum in sputum samples of AECOPD patients was Proteobacteria, which was consistent with the previous reports that the occurrence of AECOPD was related to the reduction in microbiome diversity and increased proportion of Proteobacteria [ 25 , 26 ]. Proteobacteria and its members such as Haemophilus were associated with the onset of AECOPD [ 27 ].…”

The current understanding and future directions for sputum microbiome profiling in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

“…Qi et al [25] however reports no significant differences in alpha diversity between eosinophilic and noneosinophilic AECOPD before treatment. An increased microbiome diversity is observed seven days post combined corticosteroid and antibiotic treatment, independent of whether oral or ICS are used [25,26]. The differences observed are likely due to sample collection (i.e.…”

Lung and Gut Microbiome in COPD

“…The five most prevalent phyla in sputum samples from patients with COPD during exacerbations are Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Fusobacteria [ 12 , 33 , 57 ], while in the fecal samples of mice, the most prevalent phyla are Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and TM7 [ 5 ]. The most dominant genera in sputum samples during acute exacerbations of COPD are Streptococcus , which is the most prevalent, Neisseria , Porphyromonas , Haemophilus , Veillonella , Prevotella , Rothia , Pseudomonas , Staphylococcus , Proteus , and Moraxella [ 12 , 19 , 33 , 57 , 58 , 59 ]. Studies have shown that reduced microbial diversity is associated with COPD exacerbation events [ 19 , 31 , 33 , 57 , 59 ].…”

“…The most dominant genera in sputum samples during acute exacerbations of COPD are Streptococcus , which is the most prevalent, Neisseria , Porphyromonas , Haemophilus , Veillonella , Prevotella , Rothia , Pseudomonas , Staphylococcus , Proteus , and Moraxella [ 12 , 19 , 33 , 57 , 58 , 59 ]. Studies have shown that reduced microbial diversity is associated with COPD exacerbation events [ 19 , 31 , 33 , 57 , 59 ].…”

“…There is evidence that the increase of a taxa species can induce the rise of organisms of the same taxa that altogether contribute to exacerbations [ 36 , 60 ]. In the lung microbiome, the increase in Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria and decrease in Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes are related to the onset of exacerbations [ 31 , 33 , 57 , 59 , 60 , 61 ]. In sputum samples of AECOPD patients, the proportions of Staphylococcus, Moraxella, Haemophilus , Rothia , and Stenotrophomonas are increased, and those of Lactobacillus , Streptococcus , Veillonella , Prevotella , Alloprevotella , and Porphyromonas are decreased compared to stable COPD [ 33 , 50 , 57 , 61 ] In fecal samples, AECOPD is positively associated with an increase in the abundance of Firmicutes, Ruminococcus, Blautia, Clostridium, and Turicibacter [ 5 ].…”