Gut Microbiome Composition Linked to Inflammatory Factors and Cognitive Functions in First-Episode, Drug-Naive Major Depressive Disorder Patients

Abstract

ObjectiveThe microbiota–gut–brain axis, especially the inflammatory pathway, may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, studies on the microbiota-inflammatory-cognitive function axis in MDD are lacking. The aim of the present study was to analyze the gut microbiota composition and explore the correlation between gut microbiota and inflammatory factors, cognitive function in MDD patients.MethodStudy participants included 66 first-episode, drug naïve MDD patients as well as 43 healthy subjects (HCs). The composition of fecal microbiota was evaluated using16S rRNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. The cytokines such as hs-CRP, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α in peripheral blood were detected via enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); assessment of cognitive functions was performed using the Color Trail Test (CTT), The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and the Stroop Color-Word Test (SCWT).ResultsWe found that compared with HCs, MDD patients had cognitive impairments and showed different α-diversity and β-diversity of gut microbiota composition. LDA effect size (LEfSe) analysis found MDD have higher Deinococcaceae and lower Bacteroidaceae, Turicibacteraceae, Clostridiaceae and Barnesiellaceae at family level. Deinococcus and Odoribacter was higher in the MDD group, however, Bacteroides, Alistipes, Turicibacter, Clostridium, Roseburia, and Enterobacter were lower at genus level. Furthermore, In MDD patients, the Bacteroidaceae and Bacteroides were both positively correlated with hsCRP, CCT1, CCT2. Alistipes was positively correlated with IL-6, Word time, Color time, Word-Color time, Color-Word time and negatively correlated with Delayed Memory, Total score and Standardized score. Turicibacteraceae and Turicibacter were both negatively correlated with IL-1β and IL-6.ConclusionThe present findings confirm that the gut microbiota in MDD patients have altered gut microbes that are closely associated with inflammatory factors and cognitive function in MDD patients.

Cognitive impairment in psychiatric diseases: Biomarkers of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention

“…The genes of cognitive impairment regulated by non-coding RNAs include GRIN2A, BDNF, HTR2A, and NMDAR ( Balu et al, 2013 ; Wright et al, 2013 ; Pan et al, 2021 ). Moreover, metabolism and microbiome-gut-brain axis link gut and brain activities, and they function through various neurotransmitters and cytokines as well, such as GABA, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α ( Zheng et al, 2019 ; Liu P. et al, 2021 ). Stem cells provided a valuable tool for modeling techniques and potential therapeutic applications ( Zhang Y. et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Interestingly, a new research suggests that autism-related dietary preferences mediate the autism-gut microbiome association, rather than the microbiome driving ASD ( Yap et al, 2021 ). Studies on MDD have shown that the increase of some proinflammatory bacteria and the decrease of some anti-inflammatory bacteria in patients are related to inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) and cognitive function, and intestinal microbiota may be responsible for cognitive impairment in patients with MDD ( Liu P. et al, 2021 ).…”

Dietary supplementation with fermented plant product modulates production performance, egg quality, intestinal mucosal barrier, and cecal microbiota in laying hens

“…Moreover, we observed that Odoribacter and Desulfovibrio were more abundant in the CON group than in the FPP group, which were reported to be harmful to health. A recent study indicated that compared with healthy subjects, major depressive disorder patients have higher abundance of Odoribacter, which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment in patients with major depression (Liu et al, 2022). For the genus Desulfovibrio, it always flourishes in the inflammatory environments.…”

The Peanut Skin Procyanidins Attenuate DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in C57BL/6 Mice

“…The results showed that Olsenella , which observed a significant increase in patients with UC [ 62 ], was enriched in the DSS group. The microbes including Turicibacter, Pseudomonadales, and Moraxellaceae enriched in the PSPE group have been reported negatively correlated with inflammatory factors and significantly associated with great immune recovery [ 63 , 64 , 65 ]. Both Bacteroides and Clostridium_XVIII , enriched in the DSS + PSPc group, were reported to have anti-inflammatory action.…”