Abstract
BACKGROUND: Current research is revealing important interactions between human metabolism and gut microbiota. We hypothesize that intermittent hypoxemia characterizing sleep apnea may modify the intestinal barrier and alter gut microbioma. METHODS: 10 male mice (C57BL/6; 6 wk-old) were chronically subjected to a pattern of intermittent hypoxia mimicking severe sleep apnea (20 s at 5% O2 followed by 40 s at 21% O2; 6h/day for 6 weeks) and 10 control mice breathed room air. Fecal samples were obtained and immediately frozen at -80°C. V2-V3 regions of the 16s rRNA genes of bacteria in the fecal samples were amplified and examined by Pyrosequencing (454 GS Junior System). Data analysis was performed with QIIME. RESULTS: 16s rRNA pyrosequencing showed a significant effect of hypoxia on overall microbial community structure. Intermittent hypoxia increased the α-diversity (Shannon and observed-species indexes, P<0.05); and induced a change in the gut microbiota (ANOSIM analysis of beta-diversity, P<0.05). Intermittent hypoxia group showed a higher abundance of Firmicutes and a smaller abundance of Bacteroidetes phyla than the control group (P<0.05). At the level of genus, hypoxia resulted in significant greater values of Paraprevotella and Prevotella, and smaller ones of Odoribacter and Bacteroides (according to the Bacteroidetes Genera), and in the case of the Firmicutes genera, smaller abundances of Turicibacter, rc4-4, Oscillospira and Allobaculum, than the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Intermittent hypoxia has a significant impact on overall microbial community structure, suggesting that the homeostatic relationship between host and gut microbiota could be compromised in sleep apnea patients.
- © 2014 ERS