Metagenomics Analysis of Altered Gut Microbiome in Psoriasis and the Mediation Analysis: A Case-Control Study

Yi Xiao,1– 4,* Danrong Jing,1– 4,* Hui Xiao,1– 4,* Manyun Mao,1– 4 Yehong Kuang,1– 4 Minxue Shen,1– 5 Chengzhi Lv,6,* Xingxing Jian,7,* Cong Peng,1– 4,* Xiang Chen1– 4,* 1Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, People’s Republic of China; 2Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, People’s Republic of China; 3Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, People’s Republic of China; 4National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya Hospital), Central South University, Changsha, 410008, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, People’s Republic of China; 6Dalian Dermatosis Hospital, Dalian, People’s Republic of China; 7Bioinformatics Center & National Clinical Research Centre for Geriatric Disorders & Department of Geriatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yi Xiao, Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected] Xiang Chen, Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]: Psoriasis is an inflammatory disease linked to gut microbiome dysbiosis. However, the mechanisms underlying gut microbiome changes caused by dietary habits in psoriasis remain unclear.Patients and Methods: We performed a case-control study including 64 psoriasis patients and 64 age-, sex-, and body mass index (BMI)-matched controls. Stool samples were collected for metagenomics sequencing. The differential abundance analysis was performed to identify differentially abundant taxa between psoriasis and control groups. The dietary intake frequency information of each included subject was obtained through face-to-face interviews. Mediation analysis was used to identify potential mediators of the gut microbiome alterations in psoriasis.Results: The gut microbiome of psoriasis patients was significantly alterated when compared to controls. Anaerostipes Hadrus, Blautia Wexlerae, and the other six species may be beneficial to psoriasis. However, Prevotella Copri and Eggerthellaceae could be pathogenic bacteria. The study also identified correlations between specific dietary habits and psoriasis, with the largest correlation observed between poultry consumption and psoriasis (OR=0.735, P=0.001), followed by red meat (OR=0.784, P=0.007) and fresh vegetables (OR=0.794, P=0.028). Mediation analysis revealed that Anaerostipes hadrus, Dorea longicatena, and Eggerthella lenta mediated the association between poultry and psoriasis.Conclusion: The characteristics of intestinal flora in psoriasis patients were significantly different from controls. Intestinal flora mediated the association between diet and psoriasis to some extent. This study provides new insights for adjuvant treatments of psoriasis through dietary and intestinal microbiota interventions.Keywords: psoriasis, gut microbiome, metagenomics, diet, mediator