The gut microbiome and serum metabolome are altered and interrelated in patients with intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis

Objectives: To evaluate the relationship among the gut microbiome, serum metabolites and the Intracranial atherosclerosis stenosis. Materials and methods: Integrated analysis of 16S rDNA sequencing of fecal samples and untargeted serum metabolomics was applied to identify alterations in the gut microbiome and serum metabolome in 29 Intracranial atherosclerosis stenosis patients and 29 healthy control individuals. Results: Compared to healthy control individuals, the abundances of forty-five genera and one hundred seventy-seven metabolites were significantly altered in Intracranial atherosclerosis stenosis patients. At the species level, the Intracranial atherosclerosis stenosis group exhibited higher abundances of Bacteroidetes and lower abundances of Megaphaera and Muribacoccaceae. Microbial functional prediction analysis revealed enhanced activity of bacterial chemotaxis and oxidative phosphorylation within the Intracranial atherosclerosis stenosis group. In terms of metabolomic findings, the levels of dulcitol were significantly increased in the Intracranial atherosclerosis stenosis group. The levels of specific metabolites within the phosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylcholine families, such as PC (14:0e/24:4) and LPC 20:5, were increased, while the levels of certain other specific metabolites were decreased. Dysregulation of certain pathways, such as unsaturated fatty acid metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism may be involved in the development of Intracranial atherosclerosis stenosis. Correlation analysis of the gut microbiome and metabolites revealed a positive correlation between Bacteroides and multiple metabolites, such as Acar 12:3 and PC (8:0/22:6). Conclusions: Our analysis revealed that Bacteroides is a key bacterial genus in gut dysbiosis and may be related to the development of Intracranial atherosclerosis stenosis.