Altered gut microbiome composition in nontreated plaque psoriasis patientsOriginal paper
Karen Pendergrass is a microbiome researcher specializing in microbiome-targeted interventions (MBTIs). She systematically analyzes scientific literature to identify microbial patterns, develop hypotheses, and validate interventions. As the founder of the Microbiome Signatures Database, she bridges microbiome research with clinical practice. In 2012, based on her own investigative research, she became the first documented case of FMT for Celiac Disease, four years before the first published case study.
Read MoreWhat was studied?
This study examined whether gut microbiome composition differs in people with nontreated plaque psoriasis compared with people without the condition. The researchers used metagenomic gene sequencing of fecal samples to compare microbial taxa and functional gene pathways across groups. They also compared psoriasis patients directly against their own healthy spouses, a design meant to control for shared household and dietary exposures. Gene functional analysis was performed to see whether specific microbial pathways were altered alongside compositional shifts.
Who was studied?
The study included 32 nontreated plaque psoriasis patients, 15 unrelated healthy controls, and 17 healthy spouses of the patients (healthy couples). Fecal samples from these three cohorts were analyzed by metagenomic sequencing. The abstract does not specify age, sex distribution, or geographic origin of participants.
What were the most important findings?
The relative abundance of intestinal microbiota in the psoriasis group differed from both healthy controls and the patients' own healthy partners, though overall microbial diversity was similar across all three groups. At the phylum level, the relative abundances of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were reversed in psoriasis patients, and Escherichia coli was significantly enriched compared with both comparison groups. Functional gene analysis showed ribosome pathway genes upregulated, while flagellar assembly and bacterial chemotaxis pathways were downregulated in the psoriasis cohort. Additionally, microbiota composition differed between patients with severe psoriasis and those with milder disease, suggesting a relationship between gut dysbiosis and disease severity.
What are the greatest implications of this study?
These findings strengthen the case for a link between intestinal flora and psoriasis, including a possible relationship between microbial dysbiosis and disease severity. Using patients' own healthy spouses as a comparison group helps address some of the conflicting results in prior psoriasis microbiome research. The authors note that further, more meaningful experiments are needed to clarify the mechanisms underlying this association.