The gut microbiota and metabolite profiles are altered in patients with spinal cord injury

This study investigates changes in gut bacteria and their byproducts in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. Metabolites secreted by the gut microbiota may play an essential role in microbiota–gut–central nervous system crosstalk. The researchers analyzed stool and blood samples from SCI patients and healthy individuals. The study explored the changes occurring in the gut microbiota and their metabolites in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and analyzed the correlations among them. The study suggests that certain metabolites like uridine, hypoxanthine, PC(18:2/0:0), and kojic acid could be targets for SCI treatment. Furthermore, our findings suggested that uridine, hypoxanthine, PC(18:2/0:0), and kojic acid may be important therapeutic targets for the treatment of this condition.

• 1
  SCI patients have different gut bacteria compared to healthy people, with increases in some bacteria (UBA1819, Anaerostignum, Eggerthella, Enterococcus) and decreases in others (Faecalibacterium, Blautia, Escherichia–Shigella, Agathobacter, Collinsella, Dorea, Ruminococcus, Fusicatenibacter, and Eubacterium).
• 2
  SCI patients have altered serum metabolite levels, with 18 metabolites increased and 23 decreased. Forty-one named metabolites displayed significant differential abundance between SCI patients and healthy controls, including 18 that were upregulated and 23 that were downregulated.
• 3
  Changes in gut bacteria are linked to changes in blood metabolites, and both are related to how long someone has been injured and the severity of their motor problems. Correlation analysis further indicated that the variation in gut microbiota abundance was associated with changes in serum metabolite levels, suggesting that gut dysbiosis is an important cause of metabolic disorders in SCI.