Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy induces sex-specific dysbiosis in mice

Frontiers in Microbiology, 2023 · DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1229783 · Published: October 20, 2023

Simple Explanation

Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy (DCM) is a common spinal cord problem in older adults that can cause issues like trouble walking, loss of dexterity, and bowel problems. Researchers are exploring how gut bacteria might play a role in DCM. This study found that mice with DCM had changes in their gut bacteria, and these changes were different between male and female mice. These differences could help explain why DCM is more common in men. The researchers also found that DCM may reduce the amount of a helpful substance called butyrate in the gut. This substance is made by certain bacteria and is important for gut health.

Study Duration

12 Weeks

Participants

25 C57BL/6 mice (12 female and 13 male)

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
DCM induces gut dysbiosis in mice, and the dysbiosis is sexually dimorphic, with more pronounced changes in male mice compared to females.
2
DCM is associated with a reduction in butyrate-producing bacteria in the gut, which is predicted to lead to decreased butyrate levels.
3
The abundance of bacterial members belonging to Alloprevotella, Lachnospiraceae, and Helicobacter genera was observed across DCM states in both sexes

Research Summary

This study demonstrates that DCM induces sexually dimorphic gut dysbiosis in mice, with distinct changes in the gut microbiota composition between male and female mice. The study found that DCM is associated with a reduction in butyrate and butyrate-producing bacteria, which is a common characteristic of gut dysbiosis. The results suggest that the sexually dimorphic gut dysbiosis observed in DCM may contribute to the greater prevalence of DCM in males versus females, providing a basis for personalized medicine approaches.

Practical Implications

Personalized Medicine

Understanding sex-specific gut dysbiosis in DCM can lead to personalized diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Therapeutic Targets

Targeting the gut microbiome to restore butyrate production may be a potential therapeutic approach for managing DCM.

Disease Understanding

The study provides insights into the gut-brain axis and its role in DCM pathogenesis, potentially opening new avenues for research.

Study Limitations

1
The study was conducted in mice, and the findings may not directly translate to humans.
2
Future studies should characterize human DCM microbiome using shotgun to include uncultured microorganisms and viruses in their analysis.
3
Future studies will need to validate the impact of the inference molecules of interest presented in this manuscript (i.e., LPS and butyrate) using targeted metabolomics of fecal samples.

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