Dysbiosis of Gut Microbiota in Microscopic Colitis: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Implications

TL;DR

This paper reviews how gut microbiota changes in microscopic colitis could help diagnose the condition and guide personalized treatments.

Contribution

The paper identifies specific microbial patterns in microscopic colitis that may serve as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Findings

Microbial changes in MC include reduced alpha diversity and enrichment of pro-inflammatory taxa like Veillonella dispar.

Loss of protective microbes such as Akkermansia muciniphila and Bacteroides stercoris is observed in MC patients.

These microbial trends suggest potential for non-invasive diagnostics and personalized therapies like probiotics or fecal transplants.

Abstract

Microscopic colitis (MC) is an idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by watery, non-bloody diarrhea and histopathological changes but normal endoscopic findings. Increasing evidence now suggests that alterations in the gut microbiota contribute to the pathogenesis of MC. In this narrative review, we summarize evidence from nine case-control studies examining microbial composition using sequencing technology. The research presented here illustrates reduced alpha diversity, high dysbiosis, and pro-inflammatory oral-associated taxa enrichment, such as Veillonella dispar, and loss of protective microbes such as Akkermansia muciniphila and Bacteroides stercoris. These microbial changes have the potential to be non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers that can differentiate MC from other etiologies. In addition, the characterization of gut microbiota in MC can guide personalized therapeutic strategies, such as directed probiotic therapy or fecal microbiota transplantation, to help restore microbial balance. These microbial patterns can be applied to guide the creation of diagnostic biomarkers and personalized therapy. Despite differences in sample types and sequencing methods, general microbial trends highlight the need for further longitudinal and standardized investigations.

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