Study of the specificity of gut microbiota in adult patients with delayed-onset of atopic dermatitis

Abstract

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common and recurrent skin disease. The first onset of AD in adults is known as adult-onset atopic dermatitis (AOAD). Gut microbiota is closely associated with AD, and the “gut–skin” axis is considered as a novel target for prevention of AD. However, only a few studies have analyzed AOAD, particularly the studies that compared differences in intestinal flora between AOAD and persistent AD patients. Objective: To investigate main specificities of intestinal microbiota in AOAD patients, particularly comparing with persistent AD patients. Methods: A comprehensive taxonomic and functional analysis of gut microbiota in 10 healthy, 12 AOAD, and 10 persistent AD patients was done by using bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene analysis. Chao1 and Shannon diversity indices were measured to analyze alpha diversity, and the linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe) algorithm was applied to identify differences in genus. Results: The alpha diversity of gut microbiota in AOAD patients was decreased, with Escherichiashigella (15.8%) being the predominant genus of AOAD group. Agathobacter and Dorea in AOAD patients were significantly reduced, whereas the relative level of Bacteroides pectinophilus group was remarkably elevated compared with healthy volunteers and persistent AD patients. Conclusion: The present study revealed differences in intestinal flora between AOAD, healthy adults, and non-adult onset of AD, and explored differential dominant bacteria between AOAD and persistent AD patients.