Structural and functional prediction analysis of microbiota in children with functional constipation
Objective To explore the structural and functional changes of gut microbiota and possible pathophysiological mechanism in children with functional constipation(FC).Methods This is a retrospective case-control study.The children diagnosed as FC at Children's Hospital of Shanghai or Changzhou No.7 People's Hospital from March 2018 to June 2019 were enrolled in FC group.And the children who underwent a health examination during the same period and had no gastrointestinal symptoms and history of taking medication or major illnesses in the past two weeks were selected as the control group.The diversity,structure and function of gut microbiota were compared between the two groups.The diversity of gut microbiota αwas evaluated by using Shannon index,Chao index,and Ace index.The diversity of gut microbiota β was assessed by PCoA analysis.The differences in microbial community structure at the phylum,order,family,and genus levels were analyzed between the two groups.KEGG function prediction was used to analyze the function of gut microbiota.Results There were 74 FC children(36 males and 38 females)with a mean age of(34.66±22.50)months in the FC group.There were 30 healthy children(13 males and 17 females)aged(40.87±35.46)months in the control group.There were no significant dierences in age or gender composition between the two groups(P=0.736,0.623).The scores of Shannon index,Chao index,and Ace index in the FC group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P＜0.05).indicating gut microbial α diversity was significantly decreased in children with FC.There were 1 707 operational taxonomic units(OTU)in both groups.Of them,420 existed in both groups,887 were unique to the control group,and 400 were unique to the FC group.The PCoA analysis showed that there was significant difference in the diversity of gut microbiota β between two groups(P＜0.01).Compared with the control group,the FC group showed increased abundance of three microbiotas and decreased abundance of one microbiota at the phylum level,increased abundance of 6 microbiotas and decreased abundance of one microbiota at the order level,increased abundance of 12 microbiotas and decreased abundance of one microbiota at the family level,and increased abundance of 19 microbiotas and decreased abundance of one microbiota at the genus level.KEGG function prediction showed that there were 36 functional differences between the FC group and the control group.Sixteen predicted microbial functions such as pentose phosphate pathway and lysine metabolism increased,while twenty functions such as taurine and hypotaurine metabolism,tryptophan metabolism decreased in children with FC.Conclusion There are differences in the structure and function of microbiota between children with FC and healthy children.Compared with healthy children,the diversity of microbiota was reduced in children with FC.Metabolites that stimulate intestinal peristalsis may decrease,while metabolites that inhibit intestinal peristalsis may increase in children with FC.
万方数据
维普
