Analysis of blood and fecal microbiome profile in patients with celiac disease

Abstract

Celiac disease is a multifactorial autoimmune enteropathy triggered by ingestion of gluten in genetically predisposed individuals. The increase of incidence in celiac disease suggests that additional environmental factors other than gluten may contribute to its onset and development. While intestinal dysbiosis has already been associated with celiac disease, the role that the blood microbiome plays in the loss of tolerance to gluten is unknown. In this study we aimed at evaluating weather celiac patients are characterized by alterations in the blood microbiome and how these changes may relate to the intestinal microbiome composition and, ultimately, to the loss of tolerance to gluten. Our data highlight alterations in the blood microbiome composition and taxonomic diversity in celiac patients as compared to healthy subjects. Although preliminary, these findings suggest that changes in the blood microbiome may contribute to the pathogenesis of celiac disease and open the possibility of new therapeutic and diagnostic tools for celiac patients.