Visit 3: Fecalibacterium Prausnitzii

Transcript

1. Fecalibacterium Prausnitzii Akil Palanisamy M.D. Microbiome group visit for graduates
2. Fecalibacterium Prausnitzii  named after German bacteriologist Otto Prausnitz  typically, the single most abundant bacterium in the entire microbiota of healthy adults, comprising anywhere from 5% to 15% of the total bacterial population.  In recent years, an increasing number of studies have documented the tremendous importance of this bacteria in several inflammatory and immune-mediated conditions Sylvie Miquel, “Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Human Intestinal Health,” Current Opinion in Microbiology 16, no. 3 (June 2013): 255-261
3. Protective Against Severe Covid  Certain beneficial keystone species that are known to modulate the immune system, such as F prausnitzii, were depleted in a study of 100 patients with Covid- 19, and the dysbiosis persisted even after clearance of the virus. Another study in patients hospitalized with Covid-19 found depletion of beneficial bacteria, and overgrowth of opportunistic pathogens (i.e. dysbiosis); levels of Fecalibacterium prausnitzii were inversely correlated with severity of the disease. This means that the higher the levels of this bacteria, the less severe the case of Covid-19 – it appears to be protective against severe Covid disease Yun Kit Yeoh et al., “Gut Microbes Composition Reflects Disease Severity and Dysfunctional Immune Responses in Patients with COVID-19,” Gut 70, no. 4 (April 2021):698-706
4. Butyrate  Butyrate serves as the primary fuel for the intestinal cells.  It also reduces gastrointestinal inflammation, normalizes intestinal permeability, supports healthy mucus production for the gut lining, and enhances motility of the colon (helping things move through at the proper rate).  It also has a variety of systemic benefits including limiting the negative effects of LPS, reducing overall inflammation, enhancing insulin sensitivity, supporting healthy mood, and having anti-cancer effects. Roman M. Stilling et al., “The Neuropharmacology of Butyrate: The Bread and Butter of the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis?”, Neurochemistry International 99 (October 2016): 110-132, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27346602/.
5. Butyrate  Butyrate helps reduce a condition known as visceral hypersensitivity, in which the nerves in the intestine become hypersensitive to normal amounts of gas and movement in the GI tract – strong connection to IBS  It even improves the gut-brain axis and can help to heal "leaky brain," which is an impaired blood-brain barrier that is commonly associated with impaired intestinal permeability.  Thus, butyrate is one of the most critical anti-inflammatory compounds in your body – and it must be produced by your keystone gut bacteria, such as Fecalibacterium.
6. How to raise butyrate levels  You can take two approaches to help raise butyrate levels in the GI tract. You can either try to increase the levels of your good bacteria that are supposed to produce butyrate, or you can take it as an exogenous supplement.  Usually, using prebiotics to raise the levels of keystone bacteria is effective and subsequently leads to increased production of short chain fatty acids including butyrate.  Animal studies indicate that supplemental butyrate may help improve intestinal permeability and reduce inflammation. T Karunaratne et al., “Niacin and Butyrate: Nutraceuticals Targeting Dysbiosis and Intestinal Permeability in Parkinson’s Disease,” Nutrients 13, no. 1 (January 2021): 28
7. Connection with chronic illnesses  Reductions in Fecalibacterium have been seen in autoimmune conditions including celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and psoriasis, as well as other chronic illnesses such as type II diabetes, colon cancer, and irritable bowel syndrome.  It appears to be important in Crohn’s disease. Studies show that lower levels of F. prausnitzii are associated with higher rates of exacerbations in Crohn’s disease Harry Sokol et al., "Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is an Anti-Inflammatory Commensal Bacterium Identified by Gut Microbes Analysis of Crohn Disease Patients," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105, no. 43 (October 28, 2008): 16731-16736,
8. Other benefits Enzyme production F. prausnitzii produces a range of enzymes that enable it to break down complex sugar molecules and use them for fuel in other metabolic functions. Immune modulation Strains of F. prausnitzii can prevent inflammation and moderate the immune cells by acting on T cells and cytokines (IL-8, IL-10, IL-12) and producing anti-inflammatory molecules.
9. Cancer protective Patients with colorectal cancer have less butyrate- producing bacteria, including Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (impaired gut barrier). It has been suggested that, because of lower butyrate production, the cells of the gut lining may be more susceptible to damage, which could increase the risk of developing cancer.
10. Anti-inflammatory mechanisms The anti-inflammatory effects of this bacterium are mediated by multiple mechanisms → raising levels of the beneficial T regulatory cells in the immune system via butyrate and other metabolites, and inducing the production of cytokines that reduce inflammation such as interleukin-10
11. • Keystone anaerobic bacteria, a key butyrate producer (SCFA), might be your most abundant microbiome bacteria • Because it’s anaerobic it does not survive in the presence of oxygen so it cannot yet be made into a capsule like a probiotic or cannot be part of a fermented food • Anti-inflammatory → increase anti-inflammatory cytokines • Improve intestinal barrier function • Support mucus production in the gut Summary
12. Levels are increased by polyphenols, inulin, and arabinoxylans: • Polyphenols – green tea, beans, red wine and kiwi • Inulin – Jerusalem artichoke, jicama, chicory, onion, garlic, asparagus and leek • Arabinoxylans – rye, barley, rice, oat and sorghum 20 Prebiotic Foods That Support Faecalibacterium Prausnitzii
13. Questions?