Comparative Analysis of Taxonomic and Functional Gut Microbiota Profiles in Relation to Seroconversion of Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies in Euthyroid Participants. Original paper
Researched by:
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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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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
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 investigated the taxonomic and functional gut microbiota profiles of euthyroid individuals with and without thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb), a marker for autoimmune thyroid diseases such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. The goal was to assess whether gut microbiota composition differs in individuals with TPOAb before the clinical onset of autoimmune thyroid disease and to evaluate ethnic variations in thyroid biomarkers.
Who was studied?
The study examined 1,468 euthyroid participants aged 35 years and older from the multiethnic HELIUS cohort, including European Dutch, Moroccan, and Turkish individuals. Of these, 159 participants were TPOAb-positive, and 1,309 were TPOAb-negative. Fecal microbiota composition was analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing.
What were the most important findings?
The study revealed no significant differences in global gut microbiota diversity (alpha or beta diversity) between TPOAb-positive and TPOAb-negative individuals.However, 138 microbial taxa were nominally associated with TPOAb presence, with 13 taxa consistently significant across multiple statistical methods. Among the most notable taxa, members of the Desulfovibrionaceae family were positively associated with TPOAb presence, while certain taxa from the Clostridiales vadin BB60 group were negatively associated. Functional pathway analysis indicated reduced abundance of pathways related to D-glucarate degradation, glycolysis, and adenosylcobalamin biosynthesis in TPOAb-positive participants, although none of these associations were statistically significant after correction for multiple testing. Ethnicity emerged as a more significant factor in microbiota variation than TPOAb status, with no ethnic differences in thyroid biomarker levels found.
What are the greatest implications of this study?
This study underscores the role of gut microbiota in the early stages of autoimmune thyroid disease, suggesting that microbial alterations may not be the primary driver of TPOAb seroconversion. However, the associations between specific taxa and TPOAb presence warrant further investigation to elucidate their potential involvement in disease progression. The lack of robust differences in microbiota composition between groups highlights the need for longitudinal studies to determine causal relationships between gut dysbiosis and autoimmune thyroiditis. Moreover, the findings emphasize the importance of considering ethnic diversity in microbiome research to ensure accurate interpretation of results.