A link has been shown between the gut microbiome and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a lung disease with an often poor prognosis.
Senior author Prof Phil Hansbro, Director of the Centenary University of Technology Sydney Centre for Inflammation, said, “It’s already known that the lung microbiome is a contributing factor in COPD. We wanted to see if the gut environment was also somehow involved–to determine whether the gut could act as a reliable indicator of COPD or if it was connected in some way to the development of the disease.”
Stool samples of COPD patients showed elevated levels of the bacteria Streptococcus and Lachnospiraceae. Additionally a unique metabolite signature was identified in individuals with COPD, created by the chemical by-products of the metabolic process.
First author Dr Kate Bowerman from the University of Queensland said, “Our research indicates that the gut of COPD patients is notably different from healthy individuals. This suggests that stool sampling and analysis could be used to non-invasively diagnose and monitor for COPD,” she said.
“The ‘gut-lung axis’ describes the common immune system of the lung and gastrointestinal tract. This means that activity in the gut can impact activity in the lung. Our COPD findings suggest that the gut microbiome should now also be considered when looking for new therapeutic targets to help treat lung disease,” Prof Hansbro said.
Source: Medical Xpress
