Gut microbiota and graft-versus-host disease in hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients

Pegah  Panahi; Amir Hossein  Hashemian; Mehrdad  Payandeh; Mahdi  Taghadosi; Bizhan  Nomanpour

doi:10.18502/ijm.v16i5.16800

Pegah Panahi Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
Amir Hossein Hashemian Department of Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
Mehrdad Payandeh Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah Iran
Mahdi Taghadosi Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
Bizhan Nomanpour Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijm.v16i5.16800

Keywords: Gut microbiota; Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; Graft-versus-host disease; Interleukin-6; Real-time polymerase chain reaction; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) frequently complicates hematopoietic stem cell transplan- tation (HSCT). Emerging evidence suggests a correlation between gut microbiota and GvHD risk. This study aims to eluci- date the microbiota profiles in HSCT patients before and after transplantation and their association with GvHD.

Materials and Methods: This study, conducted from December 2022 to December 2023, involved the collection of 15 stool samples from HSCT patients. Bacterial content was quantified using real-time PCR, while interleukin-6 levels were assessed via ELISA.

Results: Among the 15 participants (8 male, 7 female), 9 underwent allogeneic HSCT (allo-HSCT) and 6 received autol- ogous HSCT. In the aGvHD group, there was a significant reduction in the abundance of Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium compared to those without aGvHD. Additionally, declines were observed in Clostridium and Firmicutes populations. The genus Blautia also showed reduced prevalence in the aGvHD group, whereas no significant differences were noted in the uncomplicated group. ELISA analysis revealed that interleukin-6 levels remained within the normal range (30-960 pg/ml) with no significant elevation in the aGvHD group.

Conclusion: The study highlights a notable association between alterations in gut microbiota, specifically reductions in certain bacterial populations and the development of aGvHD following allo-HSCT.