Faculty Collaboration Database

Impact of auricular percutaneous electrical nerve field stimulation on gut microbiome in adolescents with irritable bowel syndrome: A pilot study. J Dig Dis 2023 May;24(5):348-358

Date

07/14/2023

Pubmed ID

37448237

DOI

10.1111/1751-2980.13203

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85167367088 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   3 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Percutaneous electrical nerve field stimulation (PENFS) has documented efficacy for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) via plausible vagal neuromodulation effects. The vagus nerve may affect gut microbiome composition via brain-gut-microbiome signaling. We aimed to investigate gut microbiome alterations by PENFS therapy in adolescent IBS patients.

METHODS: A prospective study of females with IBS aged 11-18 years receiving PENFS therapy for 4 weeks with pre- and post-intervention stool sampling was conducted. Outcome surveys completed pre-therapy, weekly, and post-therapy included IBS-Severity Scoring System (IBS-SSS), Visceral Sensitivity Index (VSI), Functional Disability Inventory (FDI), and the global symptom response scale (SRS). Bacterial DNA was extracted from stool samples followed by 16S rRNA amplification and sequencing. QIIME 2 (version 2022.2) was used for analyses of α and β diversity and differential abundance by group.

RESULTS: Twenty females aged 15.6 ± 1.62 years were included. IBS-SSS, VSI, and FDI scores decreased significantly after PENFS therapy (P < 0.0001, P = 0.0003, P = 0.0004, respectively). No intra- or interindividual microbiome changes were noted pre- versus post-therapy or between responders and non-responders. When response was defined by 50-point IBS-SSS score reduction, α diversity was higher in responders compared with non-responders at week 4 (P = 0.033). There was higher abundance of Blautia in excellent responders versus non-responders.

CONCLUSIONS: There were no substantial microbial diversity alterations with PENFS. Subjects with excellent therapeutic response showed an enrichment of relative abundance of Blautia, which may indicate that patients with specific microbial signature have a more favorable response to PENFS.

Author List

Bora G, Atkinson SN, Pan A, Sood M, Salzman N, Karrento K

Authors

Samantha N. Atkinson PhD Bioinformatics Analyst III in the Microbiology and Immunology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Katja K. Karrento MD Associate Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Amy Y. Pan PhD Associate Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Nita H. Salzman MD, PhD Director, Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Feces
Female
Gastrointestinal Microbiome
Humans
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Pilot Projects
Prospective Studies
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S