Hubert, Nathaniel

Pathogenesis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is multifactorial, and gut microbes are sought to play a role in development and progression of disease. In this study we examined how constipation‐predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS‐C) microbiota affect host intestinal transit and signaling pathways. To determine IBS‐C dysbiosis effects on the host, we introduced fecal microbiota from constipated mice to germ‐free recipients. Recipient mice of IBS‐C microbiota developed delayed GI transit time when compared to controls. Bacterial DNA analysis by HiSeq sequencing showed significant increase in Bacteroides uniformis , Bacteroides ovatus and Parabacteroides distasonis species from Bacteroidetes phylum in constipated mice. Fecal microbiota metabolic potential was measured with tetrazolium dye assay and showed significant differences between recipients of control and IBS‐C microbiota. Microbial metabolites such as short chain fatty acids (SCFA) are known to alter intestinal transit. SCFA levels in cecal contents of recipeints were measured by GC‐MS, and showed lower butyrate, propionate and acetate concentration in IBS‐C mice when compared to controls. To determine contractile properties of intestine after introduction of control and IBS‐C microbiota, we stimulated colonic rings with carbachol and KCl, and observed hypercontractility in IBS‐C microbiota recipients. To determine mechanism for delayed GI transit we analyzed colon tissues in fecal microbiota recipients by qRT‐PCR, and determined dysregulated neuromediator pathways. Overall, these results suggest that IBS‐C dysbiosis contributes to development of delayed transit time through microbial metabolite production and changes in colonic contractile properties. Support or Funding Information R01 DK097268 and T32 DK007074

AbstractChronic diseases arise when there is mutual reinforcement of pathophysiological processes that cause an aberrant steady state. Such a sequence of events may underlie chronic constipation, which has been associated with dysbiosis of the gut. In this study we hypothesized that assemblage of microbial communities, directed by slow gastrointestinal transit, affects host function in a way that reinforces constipation and further maintains selection on microbial communities. In our study, we used two models – an opioid‐induced constipation model in mice, and a humanized mouse model where germ‐free mice were colonized with stool from a patient with constipation‐predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS‐C) in humans. We examined the impact of pharmacologically (loperamide)‐induced constipation (PIC) and IBS‐C on the structural and functional profile of the gut microbiota. Germ‐free (GF) mice were colonized with microbiota from PIC donor mice and IBS‐C patients to determine how the microbiota affects the host. PIC and IBS‐C promoted changes in the gut microbiota, characterized by increased relative abundance of Bacteroides ovatus and Parabacteroides distasonis in both models. PIC mice exhibited decreased luminal concentrations of butyrate in the cecum and altered metabolic profiles of the gut microbiota. Colonization of GF mice with PIC‐associated mice cecal or human IBS‐C fecal microbiota significantly increased GI transit time when compared to control microbiota recipients. IBS‐C‐associated gut microbiota also impacted colonic contractile properties. Our findings support the concept that constipation is characterized by disease‐associated steady states caused by reinforcement of pathophysiological factors in host‐microbe interactions.