Link between the gut microbiome and deadly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Research by the Centenary Institute, the University of Technology Sydney and the University of Queensland has shown for the first time a link between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an often fatal lung disease, and the gut microbiome.

The results, published in the high-impact scientific journal Nature’s communications, suggests that the bowel may be useful in the diagnosis of COPD and may also be a potential source of new therapeutic targets to help treat chronic respiratory disorder.

“The lung microbiome is already known to be a contributing factor to COPD,” said Professor Phil Hansbro, lead author of the study and director of the Centenary UTS Center for Inflammation.

“We wanted to see if the intestinal environment was also involved in one way or another – to determine if the gut might act as a reliable indicator of COPD or if it was related in some way or another. another to the development of the disease. “

In the study, researchers compared the microbiome and metabolite profiles of stool samples from COPD patients with healthy individuals. Significant differences between the two groups were revealed.

Patients with COPD had increased levels of Streptococcus and Lachnospiraceae bacteria in their stool samples. A unique metabolic signature, formed by chemical byproducts of the metabolic process, has also been identified in people with COPD.

“Our research indicates that the gut of COPD patients is significantly different from healthy individuals,” said the first author of the article, Dr Kate Bowerman, of the University of Queensland.

“This suggests that stool sampling and analysis could be used to non-invasively diagnose and monitor COPD,” she said.

Researchers in the study believe that the altered gut microbiome found in patients with COPD may also support the gut as a potential target for new treatments.

The “gut-lung axis” describes the common immune system of the lung and gastrointestinal tract. This means that bowel activity can impact lung activity. Our results on COPD suggest that the gut microbiome must now also be taken into account when looking for new therapeutic targets to help treat lung disease, ”said Professor Hansbro.

COPD, a life-threatening inflammatory disorder of the lungs, is the third most common cause of death worldwide. Over 3 million lives are lost each year due to COPD.