Correlation of fecal metabolomics and gut microbiota in mice with endometriosis Original paper

Researched by:

  • Kimberly Eyer ID
    Kimberly Eyer

    User avatarKimberly Eyer, a Registered Nurse with 30 years of nursing experience across diverse settings, including Home Health, ICU, Operating Room Nursing, and Research. Her roles have encompassed Operating Room Nurse, RN First Assistant, and Acting Director of a Same Day Surgery Center. Her specialty areas include Adult Cardiac Surgery, Congenital Cardiac Surgery, Vascular Surgery, and Neurosurgery.

May 19, 2025

  • Women’s Health
    Women’s Health

    Women’s health, a vital aspect of medical science, encompasses various conditions unique to women’s physiological makeup. Historically, women were often excluded from clinical research, leading to a gap in understanding the intricacies of women’s health needs. However, recent advancements have highlighted the significant role that the microbiome plays in these conditions, offering new insights and potential therapies. MicrobiomeSignatures.com is at the forefront of exploring the microbiome signature of each of these conditions to unravel the etiology of these diseases and develop targeted microbiome therapies.

  • Endometriosis
    Endometriosis

    Endometriosis involves ectopic endometrial tissue causing pain and infertility. Validated and Promising Interventions include Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), Low Nickel Diet, and Metronidazole therapy.

Researched by:

  • Kimberly Eyer ID
    Kimberly Eyer

    User avatarKimberly Eyer, a Registered Nurse with 30 years of nursing experience across diverse settings, including Home Health, ICU, Operating Room Nursing, and Research. Her roles have encompassed Operating Room Nurse, RN First Assistant, and Acting Director of a Same Day Surgery Center. Her specialty areas include Adult Cardiac Surgery, Congenital Cardiac Surgery, Vascular Surgery, and Neurosurgery.

Last Updated: 2020

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Karen Pendergrass

Karen Pendergrass is a microbiome researcher specializing in microbiome-targeted interventions (MBTIs). She systematically analyzes scientific literature to identify microbial patterns, develop hypotheses, and validate interventions. As the founder of the Microbiome Signatures Database, she bridges microbiome research with clinical practice. In 2012, based on her own investigative research, she became the first documented case of FMT for Celiac Disease—four years before the first published case study.

Location
China
Sample Site
Feces
Species
Mus musculus

What Was Studied?

This study investigated the correlation between fecal metabolomics and gut microbiota in mice with endometriosis. Using a controlled experimental design, researchers constructed an endometriosis (EMS) mouse model with female C57BL/6J mice and analyzed fecal samples through non-targeted metabolomics and 16S rRNA sequencing. The primary objective was to identify differential metabolites and microbial compositions that could serve as biomarkers for endometriosis and provide insight into the metabolic pathways affected by gut dysbiosis in EMS. Functional prediction of the gut microbiota was performed using PICRUSt, and metabolite-microbiota correlations were assessed through Spearman correlation coefficients.

Who Was Studied

The study involved female C57BL/6J mice, which were divided into two groups: an EMS group and a control group. Endometriosis was induced in the EMS group through intraperitoneal injection of endometrial fragments, while the control group received saline injections with adipose tissue. Fecal samples were collected from both groups, processed for liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and subjected to 16S rRNA sequencing to map microbial diversity and metabolic profiles. The study aimed to simulate the inflammatory and microbiome-related characteristics of endometriosis in humans by using this established animal model.

What Were the Most Important Findings?

The study identified significant shifts in both fecal metabolomics and gut microbiota composition in mice with endometriosis compared to controls. A total of 156 named differential metabolites were screened, with key changes observed in pathways linked to secondary bile acid biosynthesis and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) metabolism. Notably, there was an increased abundance of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) alongside a decreased presence of ALA and 12,13-EOTrE in the EMS mice. Microbial diversity was reduced in the EMS group, with a specific loss in Bacteroides and Firmicutes, contrasted by increases in Proteobacteria and Verrucomicrobia. At the genus level, there was a marked increase in Allobaculum, Akkermansia, Parasutterella, and Rikenella, with significant decreases in Lachnospiraceae, Lactobacillus, and Bacteroides. Functional predictions revealed alterations in oxidative phosphorylation, alanine, aspartate, glutamate metabolism, and starch and sucrose metabolism. Importantly, the study identified Sphingobium and Pseudomonas viridiflava as consistently enriched in EMS mice, suggesting their potential role in inflammation and metabolic disruption. The correlation analysis demonstrated strong associations between specific metabolites (like CDCA and ALA) and microbial shifts, indicating a complex interaction between gut dysbiosis and metabolic imbalances in endometriosis.

ParameterFindings in EMS Mice
Metabolomic Changes156 differential metabolites identified, with key changes in secondary bile acid biosynthesis and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) metabolism.
Increased MetabolitesChenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA).
Decreased MetabolitesAlpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and 12,13-EOTrE.
Microbial DiversityOverall reduction in diversity; significant losses in Bacteroides and Firmicutes.
Phylum-Level ShiftsProteobacteria and Verrucomicrobia significantly increased in the EMS group.
Genus-Level IncreasesAllobaculum, Akkermansia, Parasutterella, and Rikenella.
Genus-Level DecreasesLachnospiraceae, Lactobacillus, and Bacteroides.
Functional Pathway AlterationsDisrupted oxidative phosphorylation, alanine, aspartate, glutamate metabolism, and starch and sucrose metabolism.
Unique EnrichmentsSphingobium and Pseudomonas viridiflava enriched in EMS mice, indicating roles in inflammation and metabolic disruption.
Metabolite-Microbiota CorrelationsStrong correlations between CDCA, ALA, and microbial shifts, suggesting complex interactions contributing to dysbiosis and inflammation.

What Are the Greatest Implications of This Study?

The findings suggest that endometriosis is associated with profound shifts in gut microbiota and fecal metabolomics, which may contribute to chronic inflammation and disease persistence. The increased levels of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), combined with reductions in ALA, indicate that bile acid metabolism and fatty acid dysregulation are central to the pathogenesis of endometriosis. The enrichment of Allobaculum, Akkermansia, Parasutterella, and Rikenella in the gut microbiota suggests these species could be contributing to local and systemic inflammation, disrupting gut barrier integrity. These microbial and metabolomic signatures could serve as non-invasive biomarkers for diagnosing endometriosis and may offer new therapeutic targets focused on restoring microbial balance and metabolic homeostasis. Furthermore, the study highlights the critical role of gut microbiota in modulating immune responses and metabolic pathways, paving the way for microbiome-targeted treatments in endometriosis management.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis involves ectopic endometrial tissue causing pain and infertility. Validated and Promising Interventions include Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), Low Nickel Diet, and Metronidazole therapy.

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