Gut microbiota characterization in Chinese patients with alopecia areata

Background: The gut microbiota is known to play a key role in autoimmune diseases. Objectives: To identify and compare the characteristics in the gut microbial composition of patients with alopecia areata (AA) and healthy controls (HCs). Methods: In a cross-sectional discovery cohort, we enrolled 33 patients with AA and 35 HCs from the same geographic location in Shanghai, China. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing and bioinformatic analyses were conducted to analyze DNA extracted from the subjects. Results: The alpha-diversity of the AA group demonstrated no statistically significant differences compared with the HC group (P > 0.05). However, the overall gut microbial communities in the AA group were distinct from the HCs (P = 0.0096). We also adopted a random forest model to select three AA-associated OTU biomarkers: OTU1237(Achromobacter), OTU257(Megasphaera), and OTU1784(Lachnospiraceae Incertae Sedis). Conclusion: The overall gut microbial composition for AA was distinct from that of HCs. The gut microbial markers we identified may potentially be used for earlier diagnosis and as therapeutic targets. (c) 2021 Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study found that the gut microbial composition of patients with alopecia areata was distinct from that of healthy controls, despite no significant differences in alpha-diversity. Three AA-associated microbial markers were identified using a random forest model, which may potentially be used for earlier diagnosis and as therapeutic targets.