Colonisation by Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and maintenance of clinical remission in patients with ulcerative colitis. Issue 2 (3rd June 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Varela, E.; Manichanh, C.; Gallart, M.; Torrejón, A.; Borruel, N.; Casellas, F.; Guarner, F.; Antolin, M.
• Is Part Of: Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics. Volume 38:Issue 2(2013)
• Page Start: 151
• Page End: 161
• Publication Date: 2013-06-03
• Subjects: Digestive organs -- Diseases -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Digestive organs -- Effect of drugs on -- Periodicals; Gastrointestinal system -- Diseases -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Gastrointestinal system -- Effect of drugs on -- Periodicals; 615.73
• DOI: 10.1111/apt.12365
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-2813

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="apt12365-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <sec id="apt12365-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Although incrimination of the intestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis of IBD is widely accepted, few data are available about the role of specific bacteria. Potentially, <italic>Faecalibacterium prausnitzii</italic>, bacteria with anti‐inflammatory properties, might be deficient in ulcerative colitis (UC).</p> </sec> <sec id="apt12365-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>To quantify <italic>F. prausnitzii</italic> in the faecal microbiota of UC patients in remission and determine its relationship with relapse.</p> </sec> <sec id="apt12365-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>A cross‐sectional study included 116 UC patients in remission, 29 first‐degree relatives and 31 healthy controls. A subset of eighteen patients, recruited during the first month of remission, underwent a 1‐year follow‐up. Total bacteria and <italic>F. prausnitzii</italic> were measured by quantitative Real Time PCR (qPCR, copies/g). Calprotectin was determined as inflammatory index (μg/g).</p> </sec> <sec id="apt12365-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>We found that <italic>F. prausnitzii</italic> was reduced in patients (median, IQR: 1.4 × 10<sup>8</sup>, 5.1 × 10<sup>7</sup>–4.5 × 10<sup>8</sup>) and relatives (1.7 × 10<sup>8</sup>, 9.3 × 10<sup>7</sup>–5.1 × 10<sup>8</sup>) vs. controls (6.5 × 10<sup>8</sup>, 3.7 × 10<sup>8</sup>–1.6 × 10<sup>9</sup>, <italic>P</italic> < 0.0001). Moreover, low counts of <italic>F. prausnitzii</italic> were associated with less than 12 months of remission (8.0 × 10<sup>7</sup>, 2.0 × 10<sup>7</sup>–3.5 × 10<sup>8</sup> vs. 2.1 × 10<sup>8</sup>, 1.0 × 10<sup>8</sup>–7.9 × 10<sup>8</sup>, <italic>P</italic> < 0.001) and more than 1 relapse/year (8.0 × 10<sup>7</sup>, 3.2 × 10<sup>7</sup>–3.8 × 10<sup>8</sup> vs. 1.9 × 10<sup>8</sup>, 6.8 × 10<sup>7</sup>–6.0 × 10<sup>8</sup>, <italic>P</italic> < 0.01). When patients were followed up, <italic>F. prausnitzii</italic> increased steadily until reaching similar levels to those of controls if remission persisted (2.9 × 10<sup>8</sup>, 9.3 × 10<sup>6</sup>–1.2 × 10<sup>9</sup>; calprotectin: 76, 19–212), whereas it remained low if patients relapsed (2.2 × 10<sup>8</sup>, 1.4 × 10<sup>6</sup>–3.3 × 10<sup>8</sup>; calprotectin: 1760, 844–3662 <italic>P</italic> < 0.05 vs. controls).</p> </sec> <sec id="apt12365-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Defective gut colonisation by <italic>F. prausnitzii</italic> occurred in UC patients during remission and in their unaffected relatives. The recovery of the <italic>F. prausnitzii</italic> population after relapse is associated with maintenance of clinical remission.</p> </sec> </abstract>