Dysbiosis of Fecal Microbiota in Allergic Rhinitis Patients

Background The gut microbiota plays an important role in shaping the immune system and may be closely connected to the development of allergic diseases. Objective This study aimed to determine the gut microbiota composition in Chinese allergic rhinitis (AR) patients as compared with healthy controls (HCs). Methods We collected stool samples from 93 AR patients and 72 age- and sex-matched HCs. Gut microbiota composition was analyzed using QIIME targeting the 16S rRNA gene. Functional pathways were predicted using Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States. Statistical analysis was performed using the R program, linear discriminant analysis effect size (LefSe), analysis of QIIME, and statistical analysis of metagenomic profiles, among other tests. Results Compared with HCs, AR patients had significantly lower gut-microbiota alpha-diversity (P < .001). The gut microbiota composition significantly differed between the 2 study groups. At the phylum level, the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes was higher while those of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria were lower in the AR group than in the HC group (P < .001, q < 0.001). At the genus level, Escherichia-Shigella, Prevotella, and Parabacteroides (P < .001, q < 0.001) had significantly higher relative abundances in the AR group than in the HC group. LefSe analysis indicated that Escherichia-Shigella, Lachnoclostridium, Parabacteroides, and Dialister were potential biomarkers for AR. In addition, predictive metagenome functional analysis showed that pyruvate, porphyrin, chlorophyll, purine metabolism, and peptidoglycan biosynthesis significantly differed between the AR and HC groups. Conclusion A comparison of the gut microbiota of AR patients and HCs suggested that dysbiosis of the fecal microbiota is involved in the development of AR. The present results may reveal key differences and identify targets for preventive or therapeutic intervention.