Investigation of the gut microbiata profiles of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) pathogenesis is still unclear. The aim of this study was to characterize the gut microbiota in patients with IPF. Further, it is to evaluate the effect of antifibrotic drugs on gut dysbiosis. Twelve patients with IPF using antifibrotic drug therapy, 12 patients with IPF not using antifibrotic drug therapy and 8 healthy controls were included in the study. Stool samples were collected. DNA extractions were performed and subjected to 16S Ribosomal RNA gene sequencing on the Illumina Novaseq at V1-V9 hypervariable regions. While Campylobacterota was found in the patient group, it wasn’t determined in the control group (p=0,025). Whereas Staphylococcales (p=0,042), and Gemellaceae (p=0,008) were not determined in the patient group, a statistically significant relationship was found in the control group. Compared to the control group in the patient group , Actinobacteria (p=0,08), Bifidobacteriales (p=0,009), Burkholderiales (p=0,046), Bacteroidaceae (p=0,009), Dorea (p=0,010), Fusicatenibacter (p=0,048), Ruminococcus gauvreauii group (p=0,004), Firmicutes bacterium CAG 56 (p=0,014) a statistically significant decrease was determined. Compared to the control group a statistically significant increase on Enterobacterales (p=0,033), Erysipelotrichaceae (p=0,018); Holdemanella (p=0,017), Alloprevotella (p=0,017) was determined in the patient group. When the patient groups diagnosed with IPF using antifibrotic drugs and not using antifibrotic drugs are compared; A statistically significant decrease in Lachnospiraceae UCG 004 (p=0.04) was found in the patient group using antifibrotic drugs. Gut microbiota dysbiosis may provide new perspectives on IPF.