What question did this study set out to answer?

This study examines how the airway microbiome and mucosal immune responses interact in individuals with and without asthma.

May 20, 2026

Airway microbiome diversity, intra-mucosal bacteria, and spatial immunity in asthmatics and controls

Puntos clave

This study examines how the airway microbiome and mucosal immune responses interact in individuals with and without asthma.
Bronchoscopic sampling from 65 adult asthmatics and 44 healthy controls.
Quantification of bacterial operational taxonomic units using 16S rRNA sequencing.
Assessment of mucosal gene expression via Digital Spatial Profiling.
Asthma was predicted by basement membrane abnormalities and bacterial diversity; specific OTU abundances were not indicators.
Intra-mucosal bacteria negatively correlated with networks related to immunity and positively with basement membrane abnormalities.
Upregulation of regulatory T cell networks was observed in asthmatics.

Resumen

Abstract Rationale Asthma is characterized by disruption of the thoracic airway mucosae and loss of microbial diversity. Spatial profiling of the mucosal transcriptome may systematically discover mechanisms for microbial influences on immunity. Objectives We investigated relationships between clinical measures, microbial communities, and the host mucosal transcriptome within different strata of bronchial biopsies in subjects with and without asthma. Methods We bronchoscoped 65 adult asthmatics and 44 healthy controls, quantifying bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in bronchial brushings by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequences. Biopsy histologic features were scored blind to diagnosis. Following 16S rRNA in situ hybridization of 44 biopsies, bacterial foci were scored in epithelium, basement membrane and stroma. Global human gene expression was quantified in epithelial and stromal compartments using Digital Spatial Profiling. Measurements and main results Clinical asthma was independently predicted by basement membrane abnormalities (BaseMA), endobronchial bacterial diversity and circulating eosinophil counts, but not by specific OTU abundances. 16S rRNA staining revealed bacteria within epithelium and mucosa of all biopsies. Intra-mucosal bacteria (IMCBs) counts correlated negatively with spatially organized co-expression networks encoding antigen-specific immunity, neutrophil functions, and matrix activation, whereas BaseMA correlated positively with the adaptive immunity module. Eosinophil counts correlated with epithelial bacterial counts and senescence pathways. Clinical asthma was accompanied by upregulation of a Treg cell network. Conclusions Asthma and its related phenotypes are accompanied by complex mucosal events that extend beyond eosinophilic pathways. Components of diverse airway microbiota may modify immunity by beneficial interactions within the mucosa.

Me gusta

Guardar