Effect of a Novel E3 Probiotics Formula on the Gut Microbiome in Atopic Dermatitis Patients: A Pilot Study

• Published in: Biomedicines
• Main Authors: Yiwei Wang, Chi Tung Choy, Yufeng Lin, Lin Wang, Jinpao Hou, Joseph Chi Ching Tsui, Junwei Zhou, Chi Ho Wong, Tai Ki Yim, Wai Kai Tsui, Un Kei Chan, Pui Ling Kella Siu, Steven King Fan Loo, Stephen Kwok Wing Tsui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2022-11-01
• Subjects: atopic dermatitis; gut microbiome; probiotic; metagenomics; machine learning; <i>Lactobacillus</i>
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/10/11/2904

Atopic dermatitis (AD) has been shown to be closely related to gut dysbiosis mediated through the gut–skin axis, and thus the gut microbiome has recently been explored as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of AD. Contrasting and varying efficacy have been reported since then. In order to investigate the determining factor of probiotics responsiveness in individuals with AD, we initiated the analysis of 41 AD patients with varying disease severity in Hong Kong, whereas the severity was assessed by Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) by board certified dermatologist. 16S rRNA sequencing on the fecal samples from AD patients were performed to obtain the metagenomics profile at baseline and after 8 weeks of oral administration of a novel E3 probiotics formula (including prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics). While EASI of the participants were significantly lower after the probiotics treatment (<i>p</i> < 0.001, paired Wilcoxon signed rank), subjects with mild AD were found to be more likely to respond to the probiotics treatment. Species richness among responders regardless of disease severity were significantly increased (<i>p</i> < 0.001, paired Wilcoxon signed rank). Responders exhibited (1) elevated relative abundance of <i>Clostridium</i>, <i>Fecalibacterium</i>, <i>Lactobacillus</i>, <i>Romboutsia</i>, and <i>Streptococcus</i>, (2) reduced relative abundance of <i>Collinsella</i>, <i>Bifidobacterium</i>, <i>Fusicatenibacter</i>, and <i>Escherichia-Shigella</i> amid orally-intake probiotics identified using the machine learning algorithm and (3) gut microbiome composition and structure resembling healthy subjects after probiotics treatment. Here, we presented the gut microbiome dynamics in AD patients after the administration of the E3 probiotics formula and delineated the unique gut microbiome signatures in individuals with AD who were responding to the probiotics. These findings could guide the future development of probiotics use for AD management.