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TAXONOMIC DYSBIOSIS OF GUT MICROBIOTA AND SERUM BIOMARKERS REFLECT SEVERITY OF CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM INJURY
Chernevskaya EA Meglei AYu, Buyakova IV, Kovaleva NYu, Gorshkov KM, ZakharchenkoVE, Beloborodova NV
Federal Research and Clinical Center of Intensive Care Medicine and Rehabilitology, Moscow, Russian
The term "chronic critical illness" (CCI) refers to patients with prolonged dependence on intensive care. In most patients, CCI is triggered by severe brain injury. Ever more studies researching the microbiota in pathologic conditions are published every year, but a lot is yet to be elucidated about the composition of the gut microbiota in CCI. The aim of this study was to investigate possible correlations between changes in the taxonomic abundance of the gut microbiota, levels of proinflammatory and neurological serum biomarkers and the severity of central nervous system injury in patients with CCI. Our prospective observational pilot study included 29 patients with CCI. Using real-time PCR allowed us to detected changes in the taxonomic abundance of the gut microbiota. The correlation analysis of serum biomarkers and the taxonomic composition of the gut microbiota revealed statistically significant correlations between cortisol levels and the abundance of F. prausnitzii (r = -0.62; p < 0.05) and B. thetaiotaomicron (r = -0.57; p < 0.05) in vegetative state patients; between the CRP/albumin ratio and the abundance of S. aureus (r = 0.72; p < 0.05); between the abundance of B. fragilis group/F. prausnitzii and S100 levels (r = 0.45; p <0.05) in conscious patients; between Glasgow coma scale scores and the abundance of Enterococcus spp. (r = -0.77; p <0.05) in both groups. Thus, the association between the changes in the taxonomic composition of the gut microbiota and the severity of neurologic deficit can be evaluated using PCR-based diagnostic techniques and blood serum biomarkers. This approach will help to optimize antibacterial treatment regimens and/or develop alternative strategies to minimize the aggressive effect of antibiotics on the gut microbiota.
Keywords: gut microbiota, gut-brain axis, chronic critical illness, biomarkers, procalcitonin, cortisol, CRP/albumin ratio, real-time PCR, Feacalibacterium prausnitzii, Bacteroides thetaiotaimicron, Enterococcus spp.
Author contribution: Chernevskaya EA, Meglei AYu — taxonomic microbiota profiling, serum biomarker tests, data analysis, manuscript preparation; Beloborodova NV— study design, final version of the manuscript; Buyakova IV Kovaleva NYu, Gorshkov KM — patient recruitment and treatment, clinical data collection; ZakharchenkoVE — sample collection, final version of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Compliance with ethical standards: the study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Federal Research and Clinical Center of Intensive Care Medicine and Rehabilitology (Protocol № 2/19/2 dated June 20, 2019). Informed consent was obtained from all study participants or their legal representatives.
[X] Correspondence should be addressed: Ekaterina A. Chernevskaya Petrovka, 25, s. 2, Moscow, 127051; [email protected]
Received: 20.08.2020 Accepted: 03.09.2020 Published online: 16.09.2020
DOI: 10.24075/brsmu.2020.053
ТАКСОНОМИЧЕСКИЙ ДИСБИОЗ МИКРОБИОТЫ И СЫВОРОТОЧНЫЕ БИОМАРКЕРЫ КАК ОТРАЖЕНИЕ ТЯЖЕСТИ ПОРАЖЕНИЯ ЦЕНТРАЛЬНОЙ НЕРВНОЙ СИСТЕМЫ
Е. А. Черневская А. Ю. Меглей, И. В. Буякова, Н. Ю. Ковалева, К. М. Горшков, В. Е. Захарченко, Н. В. Белобородова
Федеральный научно-клинический центр реаниматологии и реабилитологии, Москва, Россия
Синдром «хронического критического состояния» (ХКС) объединяет пациентов с длительной зависимостью от жизнеобеспечивающих методов терапии. У значительной доли пациентов пусковым фактором ХКС служат тяжелые повреждения головного мозга. Число исследований по изучению микробиоты при различных патологических состояниях растет с каждым годом, однако особенности микробиоты кишечника при ХКС все еще недостаточно изучены. Целью работы было выявить связь изменений таксономического состава микробиоты кишечника, воспалительных и неврологических сывороточных биомаркеров с тяжестью поражения центральной нервной системы у пациентов в ХКС. В сравнительном проспективном исследовании у 29 пациентов с поражением ЦНС в ХКС методом ПЦР в реальном времени (ПЦР-РВ) обнаружены изменения таксономического состава микробиоты. Корреляционный анализ уровней биомаркеров и представителей микробиоты кишечника выявил статистически значимые корреляции: кортизола с F. prausnitzii (r = -0,62; p < 0,05) и B. thetaiotaomicron (r = -0,57; p < 0,05) в группе пациентов в вегетативном состоянии; коэффициента СРБ/альбумин с S. aureus (r = 0,72; p < 0,05), B. fragilis group/F. prausnitzii с S100 (r = 0,45; p < 0,05) в группе пациентов с сохранным сознанием; результатов по шкале комы Глазго с уровнем Enterococcus spp. (r = -0,77; p < 0,05) в обеих группах. Таким образом, комплексная диагностика с применением метода ПЦР-РВ и современных биомаркеров позволяет оценить связь таксономических изменений состава микробиоты кишечника со степенью неврологического дефицита. Данный подход позволит оптимизировать использование антибактериальных препаратов и/или разработать альтернативные стратегии для менее агрессивного воздействия на микробиоту кишечника.
Ключевые слова: микробиота кишечника, ось «кишечник - мозг», хроническое критическое состояние, биомаркеры, прокальцитонин, кортизол, коэффициент СРБ/альбумин, ПЦР в реальном времени, Feacalibacterium prausnitzii, Bacteroides thetaiotaimicron, Enterococcus spp.
Вклад авторов: Е. А. Черневская, А. Ю. Меглей — оценка таксономического состава микробиоты и уровня биомаркеров, анализ полученных данных, написание текста рукописи; Н. В. Белобородова — дизайн исследования, редактирование рукописи; И. В. Буякова, Н. Ю. Ковалева, К. М. Горшков — отбор и работа с пациентами, сбор клинических данных; В. Е. Захарченко — получение данных для анализа, редактирование рукописи. Все авторы прочли и одобрили рукопись.
Соблюдение этических стандартов: исследование одобрено этическим комитетом Федерального научно-клинического центра реаниматологии и реабилитологии (протокол № 2/19/2 от 20 июня 2019 г.). Все пациенты или их законные представители подписали добровольное информированное согласие.
Для корреспонденции: Екатерина Александровна Черневская ул. Петровка, д. 25, с. 2, г Москва, 127051; [email protected]
Статья получена: 20.08.2020 Статья принята к печати: 03.09.2020 Опубликована онлайн: 16.09.2020 DOI: 10.24075/vrgmu.2020.053
Over the past decades, advances in intensive care have substantially improved survival in acutely critically ill patients but, at the same time, expanded the population of patients with prolonged dependence on intensive care. This engendered the concept of chronic critical illness (CCI) [1]. CCI criteria include at least 2 weeks in an intensive care unit (ICU); protracted (14-28 days) mechanical ventilation (MV); persistent inflammation; immunosuppression; hypermetabolism and hypercatabolism; increased susceptibility to infection [2-4].
Most survivors of severe brain injury meet CCI criteria. They are also at risk for CCI-attributed neurological deficit aggravated by their underlying condition and caused by functional or metabolic impairment mediated by pro- or noninflammatory factors, including microglia hyperactivation, blood brain barrier (BBB) disruption and altered neurotransmission [3]. These disturbances are detected based on the elevated markers of brain inflammation/injury [5]. Currently, there is no all-in-one biomarker for evaluating the complex pathophysiology of critical illness. Therefore, CCI patient monitoring relies on the whole array of different biomarkers. Of them, the most commonly used are S100 proteins and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) [6-8], which indicate neuronal injury, and non-specific markers of inflammation, like interleukin-6 (IL6) [9] and C-reactive protein (CRP) [10].
Changes in the gut microbiota might be an important contributor to CCI. Microbiota has the ability to affect CNS function in humans, which makes it an attractive object for research [11, 12]. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract may be involved in the development and progression of organ failures in critically ill patients [13, 14]. CCI patients have metabolic disorders leading to protein-energy malnutrition [15] and GI comorbidities caused, among other things, by nasogastric nutrition [16], which could be the underlying cause of dysbiosis observed in such patients [17]. Ever more studies researching the microbiota of critically ill patients are published every year; still, a lot is yet to be elucidated [18].
Human microbiota can be studied using a broad arsenal of methods, from classic culture-based analysis to state-of-the-art next generation sequencing (NGS). Real-time PCR is a promising alternative to culture-based methods that allows creating both qualitive and quantitative profiles of the gut microbiota [19].
The aim of this study was to investigate possible correlations between changes in the taxonomic abundance of the gut microbiota, levels of proinflammatory and neurological serum biomarkers and the severity of CNS injury in patients with CCI.
METHODS
Our prospective observational study included patients with CNS injury of various etiology (n = 29) receiving medical care at the ICU of the Federal Research and Clinical Center of Intensive Care Medicine and Rehabilitology from June 2019 to March 2020.
The following inclusion criteria were applied: patients with CNS injury of various etiology meeting CCI criteria (at least 2 weeks in ICU and/or 14-28 days of MV) aged 18-75 years and admitted to ICU for intensive neurological care. Exclusion criteria: age over 75 years; chemotherapy/hormonal therapy with steroids; neurological infection; therapy with antibiotics, pro-, pre- or metabiotics at the time of admission.
The age range was from 20 to 75 years (median: 56 (32-63) years); 17 study participants were female (58.6%) and 12 were male (41.4%). Among the pathologies included in the study were an acute cerebrovascular event (ACVE) (15 patients), severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) (7 patients), neurosurgery
complications in the postoperative period (4 patients), anoxic brain injury after a successful CPR effort to reverse clinical death (3 patients). Ten patients were on MV and 19 had a tracheostomy tube. All patients were on enteral feeding; over half of them (n = 15) were fed through a nasogastric or gastrostomy tube (GT). Antibacterial therapy was administered to 21 patients who had urinary or lower respiratory tract infection (Table 1). All patients received a metabiotic containing active metabolites of Bacillus subtilis, a sorbent and a prebiotic.
The level of consciousness was assessed using the Glasgow coma scale (GCS): 15 points — fully awake and aware, 14-13 points — clouding of consciousness, 12-9 points — sopor, 8-6 points — coma); antibiotic prescriptions were done on the day of blood/stool collection.
Sample collection
One stool sample and one venous blood sample were collected from each patient on the day of admission (prior to antimicrobial therapy) and then every 7 days until transfer from ICU. In total, 2 to 7 samples of biological specimens were obtained from each patient. Sample collection, transport and storage were performed following standard guidelines [20]. Stool samples were collected into a disposable sterile container. The containers were transported to the lab and stored at +2 - +8 °C until further use. Time from sample collection to sample analysis did not exceed 24 h. DNA was extracted from the supernatant: 0.1 g of the stool sample was mixed with 800 pl of the isotonic solution and vortexed until homogeneity. The resultant mixture was centrifuged at 12,045 g for 30 s. Further analysis was carried out following the protocol provided by the assay manufacturer (Colonoflor-16 by AlphaLab, Russia). Blood was collected from a venous catheter into an anticoagulant-free test tube. Serum samples were obtained by centrifuging the blood at 1,500 g for 10 min. Serum aliquots (500 pl) were poured into disposable Eppendorf tubes, frozen and stored at -20 °C until further use.
Analysis of gut microbiota taxonomic abundance
Composition of the gut microbiota was analyzed using Colonoflor-16 kits (AlphaLab; Russia), which include reagents for DNA extraction, PCR primers specific for all bacterial DNA (total bacterial mass) and species-specific primers. Measurements were performed using a CFX 96 Real-Time PCR Detection System (BioRad; USA).
Analysis of serum biomarkers
Concentrations of NSE, S100, procalcitonin (PCT), IL6, and cortisol were measured in 200 pl serum samples using reagent kits by Roche Diagnostics, Switzerland, and a Cobas e411 automated analyzer, which relies on the ElectroChemiLuminescence technology (Roche; Switzerland).
Albumin and CRP levels were determined using an automated AU 480 chemistry analyzer (Beckman Coulter; USA) and reagent kits by the same manufacturer.
Statistical analysis was carried out in Statistica 13.0 (Stat Soft Inc.; USA). The obtained data are presented below as median values and lower and upper quartiles. Intergroup comparisons were made using the Mann-Whitney U test. Correlation strength was measured using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. Differences were considered significant at p < 0.05.
Table 1. Patient characteristics. MV — mechanical ventilation, TST — tracheostomy tube, ACVE — acute cerebrovascular event, TBI — traumatic brain injury
Vegetative state patients (n = 10)
Patient ID Age/sex Diagnosis Respiration Antibacterial therapy GCS score
1 40 / f Anoxic brain injury MV Oxazolidinone (linezolid), cephalosporins, carbapenems 9
2 64 / f ACVE MV, TST Cephalosporins, carbapenems, aminoglycosides, glycopeptides (vancomycin) 10
3 32 / f Post-op complications MV, TST Fosfomycins (monurol), carbapenems, aminoglycosides, glycopeptides (vancomycin) 12-15
4 61 / f ACVE TST Nitrofurans (macmiror), carbapenems, glycopeptides, rifampicin 13
5 38 / f ACVE MV Carbapenems 6
6 31 / f TBI TST - 13-15
7 69 / f ACVE MV, TST Carbapenems, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines 9-12
8 51 / m TBI TST Carbapenems, glycopeptides (vancomycin), tetracyclines 13
9 62 / m Post-op complications MV, TST Glycopeptides (vancomycin), aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, fosfomycins (monurol) 9-14
10 26 / f TBI TST Carbapenems, tetracyclines, glycopeptides (vancomycin), sulfonamides 10-12
Conscious patients (n = 19)
1 26 / m ACVE TST Macrolides, glycopeptides 15
2 56 / m Anoxic brain injury TST - 15
3 58 / f ACVE TST - 15
4 60 / m ACVE TST Nitrofurans, enterol 15
5 22 / f TBI TST - 15
6 42 / f ACVE TST - -
7 20 / m TBI TST Cephalosporins -
8 63 / f ACVE TST Carbapenems, aminoglycosides 12-14
9 74 / m ACVE TST - 14
10 32 / m Post-op complications TST - 15
11 44 / m Anoxic brain injury TST Carbapenems, tetracyclines 15
12 69 / f TBI MV - 13
13 58 / m ACVE TST Fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides 14-15
14 74 / m ACVE MV Aminoglycosides, sulfonamides, nitrofurans, tetracyclines, cephalosporins, antimycotics 10
15 76 / m ACVE TST Cephalosporins, glycopeptides, fosfomycins 10-14
16 72 / f Post-op complications MV Carbapenems, glycopeptides, antimycotics 14
17 23 / f TBI TST Carbapenems, glycopeptides 15
18 51 / f ACVE MV, TST Cephalosporins, glycopeptides, aminoglycosides 11-15
19 57 / m ACVE TST Tetracyclines, carbapenems, glycopeptides 10
RESULTS
Our study included 29 patients (see Table 1). Patients with etiologically different severe CNS injury formed a single group due to similar CCI manifestations regardless of the underlying condition. No significant differences in the taxonomic abundance of the gut microbiota were observed between the subgroups of patients receiving or not receiving antimicrobial therapy (Table 2). Therefore, the subsequent intergroup comparisons were based on neurologic assessment scores.
Based on the level of consciousness, the patients were divided into 2 subgroups [21] (see Table 1): vegetative state or minimally responsive patients (n = 10) and conscious patients with pronounced cognitive and mental impairment (n = 19). The latter is a clinical sign of CCI. The subgroups were comparable in terms of age (Table 3).
The following features of the gut microbiota taxonomy were identified during the analysis aided by real-time PCR (Fig. 1):
- total bacterial mass was comparable to the reference ranges provided by the manufacturer of the assay;
- gut microbiota of CCI patients contains Clostridium spp., Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Parvimonas micra, which are not detected in healthy individuals;
- for 6 microorganisms (Klebsiella spp., Candida spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus spp., Enterobacter spp./ Citrobacter spp.), base 10 logarithms of CFU concentrations (lg CFU/G) were 1.5-2 times above the upper reference limit;
- Bacteroides thetaiotimicron were low in comparison with the reference values;
- significant differences were observed in F. prausnitzii concentrations between the subgroups of patients with different level of consciousness (p = 0.015);
Levels of serum biomarkers (cortisol, albumin, CRP, CRP to albumin ratio) differed significantly between the groups (see Table 3). PCT was within the reference range in both conscious and vegetative state patients, but the differences between these two groups were significant (p = 0.009) (see Table 3).
Based on their GCS scores, our patients were divided into 3 subgroups: 15 points — fully awake and aware patients (n = 37), 14-13 points — clouding of consciousness (n = 33), 12-6
Table 2. Taxonomic abundance of the gut microbiota in patients receiving or not receiving antibacterial therapy
Parameter Reference range Patients, median (Q1; Q3)
Received antibiotics (n = 19) Did not receive antibiotics (n = 21)
Total bacterial mass < 1012 2x1012 (3x1011-8x1012) 2.5x1012 (2x1011-1013)
Lactobacillus spp. 107-108 4x1 07 (2x106-108) 3x107 (7x106-6.5x108)
Bifidobacterium spp. 109-1010 4x109 (3x1 08-3x1010) 9x108 (9.5x107-8.5x109)
Escherichia coli 107-108 5x108 (7x107-3x1 09) 3x108 (4.5x107-3.5x109)
Bacteroides fragilis group 109-1012 1.5x1012 (2x1011-8x1012) 4x1012 (3x1011-1013)
Faecalibacterium prausnitzii 108-1011 5x107 (9.5x106-6x108) 1 08 (107-3x1010)
Klebsiella pneumoniae < 104 3x1 06 (2x105-108) 6x105 (2x105-106)
Klebsiella oxytoca < 104 1.5x10" (2x106-1013) 2x1014 (1.1x106-4.5x1014)
Candida spp. < 104 2x107 (6x106-5x1 07) 2x107 (7x1 06-2x1 07)
Staphylococcus aureus < 104 4x108 (3x107-6x1011) 2x1 08 (3x107-109)
Enterococcus spp. < 108 8x105 (7x105-9x1 06) 1.2x1 06 (2x105-2x106)
Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron 109-1012 6x108 (2x107-4x1 09) 2.5x108 (2.5x107-2x109)
Akkermansia muciniphila < 1011 8x1 08 (107-3x109) 5.1 x108 (5.1 x107-5.5x109)
Clostridium difficile - 2x1 08 (107-2x109) 4x1 07 (2x105-109)
Clostridium perfringens - - 6x105 (6x1 05-2x1 06)
Proteus spp. < 104 109 (2.5x108-2x1 010) 6.5x108 (108-1010)
Enterobacter spp. / Citrobacter spp. < 104 4.5x107 (6.5x106-6.5x108) 5x108 (2x1 07-4x1 09)
Fusobacterium nucleatum - 2x107 (5x106-2x1 08) 1.95x106 (3x105-4.5x107)
Parvimonas micra - 2.55x108 (7.5x106-1014) 107 (2x1 05-2x1 012)
Bacteroides fragilis group to Faecalibacterium prausnitzii ratio 0.1-100 5000 (100-100 000) 667 (100-15 000)
points — sopor/coma (n = 40). Differences in the CRP/albumin ratio (Fig. 2), cortisol and IL6 (Fig. 3) observed between these groups were statistically significant.
To test correlations in the gut-brain axis system, we applied the correlation analysis to the levels of serum biomarkers and gut microbiota representatives. In vegetative state patients, significant negative correlations were discovered for cortisol and F. prausnitzii (r = -0.62) and cortisol and B. thetaiotaomicron (r = -0.57). In conscious patients, the CRP/albumin ratio value was directly correlated with the abundance of S. aureus (r = 0.72); S100 levels were directly correlated with B. fragilis group/F. prausnitzii (r = 0.45).
A strong negative correlation was discovered between the abundance of Enterococcus spp. and GCS scores (r = -0.77; р < 0.05).
Table 3. Blood serum parameters in patients with CCI
DISCUSSION
Based on our findings, we conclude that the taxonomic abundance of the gut microbiota in CCI patients differs significantly from the reference values, regardless of their neurological status. Pronounced dysbiosis in patients with CCI is characterized by increased levels of Proteobacteria, Candida spp., opportunistic Firmicutes and Bacteroides, and reduced abundance of commensal microorganisms (see Fig. 1) producing low molecular weight metabolites (F. prausnitzii). These data are consistent with the findings of previous gut microbiota studies that employed 16S RNA sequencing and were conducted in patients undergoing intensive care [22] and critically ill patients with brain injury [23]. It is reported that pronounced dysbiosis developed by stroke survivors and
Parameter, unit Reference range Patients, median (Q1; Q3) P
Conscious (n = 19) Vegetative state (n = 10)
Age, years - 57 (32-69) 51 (38-62) 0.82
PCT, ng/ml* <0.25 0.058 (0.039-0.095) 0.107 (0.08-0.177) 0.009
Cortisol, nmol/L* 166-507 367 (244-623) 682 (492-816) 0.001
IL6, pg/ml <7 31 (15-47) 35 (14-67) 0.293
S100, pg/ml <0.1 0.097 (0.05-0.16) 0.105 (0.06-0.19) 0.423
NSE, ng/ml 15.7-17 17.8 (12.8-23) 15.2 (9.7-22) 0.248
CRP, mg/L* <5 35 (18-78) 76 (33-147) 0.004
Albumin, g/L* 35-55 33 (28-35) 28 (25-35) 0.038
CRP/albumin, rel.un. <1 1.2 (0.5-2.2) 2.5 (0.9-5.8) 0.003
Note: * — differences are statistically significant.
1,00E+13 -| 1,00E+12 -1,00E+11 1,00E+10 -1,00E+09 m 1,00E+08 ÜJ 1,00E+07 — % 1,00E+06 1,00E+05 1,00E+04 -1,00E+03 -1,00E+02 -1,00E+01 1,00E+00
Vegetative state
Fig. 1. The taxonomic composition of the gut microbiota in conscious patients (n = 19) and vegetative state patients (n = 10) compared to the reference ranges (shown in blue) provided by the manufacturer. Twenty parameters were compared
manifested as the dominance of short-chain fatty acids producers, including Odoribacter and Akkermansia, was correlated with their clinical outcomes [24]. However, the cited study evaluated the composition of the gut microbiota in the first 48h after stroke, and we were unable to find any publications describing microbiota composition in chronically ill neurological patients; these facts underscores the novelty of our findings.
Biomarker analysis uncovered significant differences in the levels of cortisol, CRP, albumin and the CRP/albumin ratio between conscious and vegetative state patients (see Table 3). The studied biomarkers were significantly correlated with the abundance of some gut microbiota representatives (see Table 3), supporting the gut-brain axis concept. The established negative correlations between cortisol levels and the abundance of F. prausnitzii and В. thetaiotaomicron in vegetative state patients are consistent with earlier reports demonstrating that a decline in the abundance of the foregoing taxa compromises
the neuroprotective function of the gut microbiota and therefore leads to nervous tissue injury [25], an immune response shift towards inflammation and autoimmunity [26]. In turn, elevated cortisol exerts a negative effect on the metabolism of critically ill patients, shifting the balance towards catabolism and promoting the hypermetabolism-hypercatabolism syndrome [27, 28].
In our study, CRP and cortisol levels, as well as the CRP/albumin ratio value, were twice as high in vegetative state patients, whereas their albumin levels were lower than in conscious participants, indicating more pronounced inflammation and catabolism in vegetative state. РСТ levels were within the reference range in both groups, although the difference between the groups was significant, suggesting aseptic inflammation unrelated to systemic bacterial infection (see Table 3).
The CRP/albumin ratio is widely studied as a combined marker of systemic inflammation and nutritional status and also
GCS scores
/A
P/ R
C
0
Fig. 2. Association between the CRP/albumin ratio and GCS scores p < 0.05 for comparison of the groups that scored 15 and 12-6 points)
GCS scores ■ 15 И14-13И12-6
1800 -, 1600
m
— 1400 s n
i 1200 H ra
§ 1000 -n
о
" 800 -o is
ё 600 -
C
400 200 0
о
p= 0.0003
p= 0.00003
1
ê
250
200
150 -
100 -
50
p= 0.0009
Fig. 3. Blood serums concentrations of IL6 and Cortisol In patients with different GCS scores (p < 0.05 for comparison between groups scoring 15 and 14-13 points and between groups scoring 15 and 12-6 points)
as an independent prognostic marker in patients with infection, malignancies or undergoing intensive care [10, 29, 30]. We have demonstrated that the CRP/albumin ratio indicates the severity of consciousness impairment on GCS in critically ill patients (see Fig. 2) and correlates with the abundance of opportunistic S. aureus in the gut microbiota of such patients. S100 and NSE are traditionally used as markers of acute nervous tissue injury [31]. In our CCI patients, their only slightly changed levels were within the reference range, which might be reflective of the perpetuation of brain tissue injury. The observed direct correlation between S100 levels and the Bacteroides fragilis to Faecalibacterium prausnitzii ratio (a potential marker of proinflammatory type dysbiosis) and the strong negative correlation between GCS scores and Enterococcus spp. abundance confirm the association between dysbiosis and brain dysfunction. However, the link between the taxonomic abundance of the gut microbiota, the levels of neurologic biomarkers and the degree of neurologic deficit is not fully clear and needs to be further elucidated. We found no data on the correlation between the studied taxa and the levels of serum biomarkers in patients with CCI in the available literature.
To sum up, the gut microbiota of chronically critically ill patients with brain dysfunction undergoes certain transformations and can be deemed a "damaged organ". The small study sample size and different therapeutic regimens did not allow us to assess the contribution of antibiotics to the changes in the gut microbiota. However, a complex approach based on the use of state-of-the-art technologies might help to optimize antibiotic therapies in the future.
CONCLUSIONS
1. Regardless of CNS injury severity, patients with CCI have pronounced imbalances in the taxonomic composition of their gut microbiota. 2. The established significant correlations between the studied serum biomarkers, GCS scores and certain gut microbiota representatives support the gut-brain axis concept. 3. Complex PCR-based diagnostics allows performing rapid dynamic assessment of the taxonomic composition of the gut microbiota. 4. Further research is needed to confirm the role of the gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of neurological deficit. Microbiota-targeted therapies might improve the efficacy of neurorehabilitation even in patients with severe brain damage.
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24. Li N, Wang X, Sun C, Wu X, Lu M, Si Y, et al. Change of intestinal microbiota in cerebral ischemic stroke patients. BMC Microbiol. 2019; 19 (1): 191.
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Литература
1. Nelson JE, Cox C.E., Hope A.A., Carson S.S. Chronic critical Illness. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2010; 182 (4): 446-54.
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3. Парфёнов А. Л., Петрова М. В., Соловьёва Н. Н., Степанюк Т. А., Зачепилова К. О., Саидов Ш. Х., и др. Белково-энергетическая недостаточность и структура летальности у пациентов в хроническом критическом состоянии. Здоровье и образование в XXI веке. 2018; 20 (8): 55-60.
4. Cox CE. Persistent systemic inflammation in chronic critical illness. Respir Care. 2012; 57 (6): 859-66.
5. Duda I, Krzych t, J^drzejowska-Szypuika H, Lewin-Kowalik J. Serum levels of the S100B protein and neuron-specific enolase are associated with mortality in critically ill patients. Acta Biochimica Polonica. 2017; 64 (4): 681-52.
6. Белобородова Н. В., Острова И. В. Сепсис-ассоциированная энцефалопатия (обзор). Общая реаниматология. 2017; 13 (5): 121-39.
7. Thomas PAW, Moffatt CE, Rudd D, Marshman LAG. S-100ß in chronic subdural haematoma: Prospective cohort study. J Clin Neurosci. 2019; 67: 145-50.
8. Shaik AJ, Reddy K, Mohammed N, Tandra SR, Rukmini MK, Baba KS. Neuron specific enolase as a marker of seizure related neuronal injury. Neurochem Int. 2019; 131: 104509.
9. Kiiski H, Längsjö J, Tenhunen J, Ala-Peijari M, Huhtala H, Hämäläinen M, et al. Time-courses of plasma IL-6 and HMGB-1 reflect initial severity of clinical presentation but do not predict poor neurologic outcome following subarachnoid hemorrhage. eNeurologicalSci. 2017; 6: 55-62.
10. Park JE, Chung KS, Song JH, Kim SY, Kim EY, Jung JY, et al. The C-reactive protein/albumin ratio as a predictor of mortality in critically ill patients. J Clin Med. 2018; 7 (10): 333.
11. Giau VV, Wu SY, Jamerlan A, Soo SA, Kim AN, Sang YK, et al. Gut microbiota and their neuroinflammatory implications in Alzheimer's disease. 2018; 10 (11): 1765.
12. Kohler J, Borchers F, Endres M, Weiss B, Spies C, Emmrich JV. Cognitive deficits following intensive care. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2019; 116 (38): 627-34.
13. Meng M, Klingensmith NJ, Coopersmith CM. New insights into the gut as the driver of critical illness and organ failure. Curr Opin Crit Care. 2017; 23 (2): 143-8.
14. Otani S, Coopersmith CM. Gut integrity in critical illness. J Intensive Care. 2019; 20 (7): 7.
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16. Levy H, Hayes J, Boivin M, Tomba T. Transpyloric feeding tube place-ment in critically ill patients using electromyogram and ery-thromycin infusion. Chest. 2004; 125 (2): 587-91.
17. Луфт В. М. Современные возможности нутриционной поддержки больных в интенсивной медицине. Вестник анестезиологии и реаниматологии. 2010; 7 (5): 42-51.
18. Chernevskaya E, Beloborodova N, Klimenko N, Pautova A, Shilkin D, Gusarov V, et al. Serum and fecal profiles of aromatic microbial metabolites reflect gut microbiota disruption in critically ill patients: a prospective observational pilot study. Crit Care. 2020; 24: 312.
19. Kurina I, Popenko A, Klimenko N, Koshechkin S, Chuprikova L, Filipenko M, et al. Development of qPCR platform with probes for quantifying prevalent and biomedically relevant human gut microbial taxa. Mol Cell Probes. 2020; 52: 101570.
20. Методические указания «Организация работы лабораторий, использующих методы амплификации нуклеиновых кислот при работе с материалом, содержащим микроорганизмы I-IV групп патогенности» МУ 1.3.2569-09. Москва, 2009. Доступно по ссылке: http://docs.cntd.ru/document/1200077791.
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22. Zaborin A, Smith D, Garfield K, Quensen J, Shakhsheer B, Kade M,
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23. Ravi A, Halstead FD, Bamford A, Casey A, Thomson NM, Schaik W, et al. Loss of microbial diversity and pathogen domination of the gut microbiota in critically ill patients. Microb Genom. 2019; 5 (9): e000293.
24. Li N, Wang X, Sun C, Wu X, Lu M, Si Y, et al. Change of intestinal microbiota in cerebral ischemic stroke patients. BMC Microbiol. 2019; 19 (1): 191.
25. Benakis C, Brea D, Caballero S, Faraco G, Moore J, Murphy M, et al. Commensal microbiota affects ischemic stroke outcome by regulating intestinal yS T cells. Nature Medicine. 2016; 22 (5): 516-23.
26. Ситкин С. И., Вахитов Т. Я., Демьянова Е. В. Микробиом, дисбиоз толстой кишки и воспалительные заболевания кишечника: когда функция важнее таксономии. Альманах клинической медицины. 2018; 46 (5): 396-425.
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Алексеев В. Г. Изменения гормонально-метаболических показателей у пациентов, находящихся в критическом состоянии. Общая реаниматология. 2012; 8 (5).
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29. Llop-Talaveron J, Badia-Tahull MB, Leiva-Badosa E. An inflammation-based prognostic score, the C-reactive protein/ albumin ratio predicts the morbidity and mortality of patients on parenteral nutrition. Clin Nutr. 2018; 37 (5): 1575-83.
30. Oh TK, Song IA, Lee J.H. Clinical usefulness of C-reactive protein to albumin ratio in predicting 30-day mortality in critically ill patients: A retrospective analysis. Sci Rep. 2018; 8 (1): 14977.
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