Impact of gut permeability on the breast microbiome using a non-human primate model

Abstract

We previously demonstrated in non-human primates (NHP) that Mediterranean diet consumption shifted the proportional abundance of Lactobacillus in the breast and gut. This data highlights a potential link about gut-breast microbiome interconnectivity. To address this question, we compared bacterial populations identified in matched breast and fecal samples from our NHP study. Dietary pattern concurrently shifted two species in both regions; Streptococcus lutetiensis and Ruminococcus torques. While we observe similar trends in Lactobacillus abundances in the breast and gut, the species identified in each region vary; Mediterranean diet increased Lactobacillus_ unspecified species in breast but regulated L. animalis and L. reuteri in the gut.We also investigated the impact of gut permeability on the breast microbiome. Regardless of dietary pattern, subjects that displayed increased physiological measures of gut permeability (elevated plasma lipopolysaccharide, decreased villi length, and decreased goblet cells) displayed a significantly different breast microbiome. Gut barrier dysfunction was associated with increased α-diversity and significant different β-diversity in the breast tissue. Taken together our data supports the presence of a breast microbiome influenced by diet that largely varies from the gut microbiome population but is, however, sensitive to gut permeability.

Significant Microbial Changes Are Evident in the Reproductive Tract of Pregnant Rhesus Monkeys at Mid-Gestation but Their Gut Microbiome Does Not Shift until Late Gestation

“…In addition, there was an increased abundance of bacterial genes in the hindgut that encode RecQ helicases, which are required for the repair of replicative damage and known to be conserved from bacteria to mammals [ 115 ]. Beyond the possible effects on maternal physiology during pregnancy, bacteria in both the gut and reproductive tract help to seed a microbial endowment to mammary tissue and breast milk and will become established as the microbiome of the neonate and developing infant [ 116 , 117 ]. Finally, there are some implications for clinical practice and policy because the gut microbial profile during pregnancy is known to be responsive to dietary supplements [ 118 ], and the extent of the transfer of beneficial commensals from mother to infant is amenable to obstetric decisions during delivery [ 119 , 120 ].…”