Firmicutesand Blautiain gut microbiota lessened in chronic liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinoma patients: a pilot study

ABSTRACTThe gut microbiota system plays a vital role in liver diseases. This study aimed to address the diversity of gut microbiota and its correlations with clinical parameters in healthy individuals, chronic liver disease (CLD), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Fecal specimens of nine healthy individuals, 11 CLD, and 21 HCC were collected. The diversity of gut microbiota was examined by PCR and Illumina MiSeq sequencing and analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing database. The correlations between gut microbiota and the clinical parameters of participants were also addressed. Compared to healthy individuals, Firmicutesat a phylum level decreased in CLD and HCC patients and Proteobacteriaincreased (p < 0.05). The composition of Blautiaon a genus level in CLD and HCC patients significantly decreased compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05). Firmicutescomposition was negatively associated with age and number of males (p < 0.05) and was positively associated with monocytes, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels (p < 0.05). At a genus level, Blautiacomposition was negatively associated with cirrhosis, age, and number of males (p < 0.01), while it was positively associated with red blood cells (RBCs), triglycerides, HDL-C, and lymphocyte levels (p < 0.05). Conclusively, there was a significant compositional difference in gut microbiota in CLD and HCC patients compared with healthy subjects. Firmicutesand Blautiain gut microbiota system lessened in CLD and HCC patients. Clinical biochemical parameters have an impact on the diversity of gut microbiota in liver diseases.