Molecular estimation of alteration in intestinal microbial composition in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis patients Original paper
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Karen Pendergrass
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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.
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Karen Pendergrass
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Karen Pendergrass
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Autoimmune Diseases
Autoimmune Diseases
Autoimmune disease is when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's tissues, often linked to imbalances in the microbiome, which can disrupt immune regulation and contribute to disease development.
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Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
OverviewHashimoto’s Thyroiditis (HT) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the progressive destruction of thyroid follicles due to chronic inflammation, often leading to hypothyroidism. It affects 10-12% of the global population, with a significantly higher prevalence among women. While its etiology involves genetic, environmental, and epigenetic factors, increasing evidence highlights the role of gut microbiota in […]
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Karen Pendergrass
Researched by:
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Karen Pendergrass
ID
Karen Pendergrass
Fact-checked by:
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Karen Pendergrass
ID
Karen Pendergrass
Microbiome Signatures identifies and validates condition-specific microbiome shifts and interventions to accelerate clinical translation. Our multidisciplinary team supports clinicians, researchers, and innovators in turning microbiome science into actionable medicine.
Karen Pendergrass
What Was Studied?
This study examined alterations in the gut microbiota composition of patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT). It aimed to investigate the relationship between intestinal dysbiosis and HT through quantitative and qualitative analysis of gut microbial diversity and composition using techniques such as PCR-DGGE, real-time PCR, and pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA genes.
Who Was Studied?
The study analyzed fecal samples from 29 HT patients and 12 healthy individuals aged 40–60 years. Patients were diagnosed based on elevated thyroid antibodies (TPOAb and TGAb) and other clinical markers, including TSH and T4 levels. Healthy controls had normal thyroid function and no history of antibiotic or probiotic use in the 60 days preceding the study.
What Were the Most Important Findings?
The study revealed significant gut microbiota dysbiosis in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) patients compared to healthy controls. HT patients exhibited an increased abundance of inflammatory phyla like Proteobacteria and decreased beneficial phyla such as Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. At the genus level, Escherichia-Shigella and Parasutterella were elevated, while anti-inflammatory genera such as Prevotella_9 and Dialister were significantly reduced. Escherichia coli was particularly overrepresented, potentially contributing to intestinal barrier disruption and inflammation linked to thyroid autoimmunity.
Real-time PCR showed significant reductions in Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, essential for producing immune-regulating SCFAs, while alpha diversity indicated bacterial overgrowth in HT patients. Functional diversity measures showed no significant changes, pointing to microbial imbalance rather than increased functional diversity. Pyrosequencing confirmed these findings, demonstrating a distinct microbial profile in HT patients. These results highlight the role of gut dysbiosis in HT pathogenesis and suggest potential therapeutic strategies targeting microbiome restoration.
What Are the Greatest Implications?
This study highlights gut microbiota dysbiosis as a potential contributor to the pathogenesis of HT. The findings suggest that the overrepresentation of inflammatory and opportunistic pathogens, such as Escherichia coli and Escherichia-Shigella, coupled with the reduction of beneficial microbes like Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, may influence immune regulation and thyroid autoimmunity. Restoring microbial balance through probiotics, dietary interventions, or targeted microbiome therapies could serve as novel strategies for managing HT. These results underscore the critical role of gut health in autoimmune diseases and provide a foundation for developing microbiome-targeted interventions.