A Comprehensive Pilot Study to Elucidate the Distinct Gut Microbial Composition and Its Functional Significance in Cardio-Metabolic Disease.

Abstract

Cardio-metabolic disease is a significant global health challenge with increasing prevalence. Recent research underscores the disruption of gut microbial balance as a key factor in disease susceptibility. We aimed to characterize the gut microbiota composition and function in cardio-metabolic disease and healthy controls. For this purpose, we collected stool samples of 18 subjects (12 diseased, 6 healthy) and we performed metagenomics analysis and functional prediction using QIIME2 and PICRUSt. Furthermore, we carried out assessments of microbe-gene interactions, gene ontology, and microbe-disease associations. Our findings revealed distinct microbial patterns in the diseased group, particularly evident in lower taxonomic levels with significant variations in 14 microbial features. The diseased cohort exhibited an enrichment of Lachnospiraceae family, correlating with obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic disturbances. Conversely, reduced levels of Clostridium, Gemmiger, and Ruminococcus genera indicated a potential inflammatory state, linked to compromised butyrate production and gut permeability. Functional analyses highlighted dysregulated pathways in amino acid metabolism and energy equilibrium, with perturbations correlating with elevated branch-chain amino acid levels-a known contributor to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. These findings were consistent across biomarker assessments, microbe-gene associations, and gene ontology analyses, emphasizing the intricate interplay between gut microbial dysbiosis and cardio-metabolic disease progression. In conclusion, our study unveils significant shifts in gut microbial composition and function in cardio-metabolic disease, emphasizing the broader implications of microbial dysregulation. Addressing gut microbial balance emerges as a crucial therapeutic target in managing cardio-metabolic disease burden.