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2019 OMIG Abstract

Gut Microbial Dysbiosis in Individuals with Sjögren’s Disease

Arjun Watane¹, Kara M. Cavuoto MD¹, Anat Galor MD MSPH^1,2, Santanu Banerjee PhD^2
1Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami, Miami, FL;
²Miami Veterans Administration Medical Center; 3Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL

Methods: Prospective case series of individuals with confirmed (n=13) and unconfirmed (n=8) Sjögrens (n=21; cases) as compared to healthy controls (n=10). Stool was analyzed by 16S pyrosequencing and associations between bacterial profiles and DE symptoms and signs were examined.

Results: Firmicutes was the dominant phylum in the gut, comprising 40-60% of all phyla. On a phyla level, subjects with Sjögren’s (confirmed and unconfirmed) had depletion of Firmicutes (1.1-fold), and an expansion of Proteobacteria (3.0-fold), Actinobacteria (1.7-fold), and Bacteroidetes (1.3-fold), compared to controls. Shannon’s diversity index showed no differences between groups with respect to the numbers of different OTUs encountered (diversity) and the instances these unique OTUs were sampled (evenness). On the other hand, Faith’s phylogenetic diversity showed increased diversity in cases vs controls, which reached significance when comparing confirmed Sjögren’s and controls (13.57 ± 0.89 and 10.96 ± 0.76, p=0.02). Using Principle Co-ordinate Analysis, qualitative differences in microbial composition were noted with differential clustering of cases and controls. Dimensionality reduction and clustering of complex microbial data further showed differences between the three groups, with regard to microbial composition, association and clustering. Finally, differences in certain phyla of bacteria correlated with DE symptoms and signs.

Conclusion: Individuals with Sjögren’s have gut microbiome alterations as compared to healthy controls. Certain bacterial profiles were associated with DE measures.

Disclosure: S

Supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Office of Research and Development, Clinical Sciences Research EPID-006-15S (Dr. Galor), R01EY026174 (Dr. Galor), NIH Center Core Grant P30EY014801 and Research to Prevent Blindness Unrestricted Grant)

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