Dysbiosis of lower respiratory tract microbiome are associated with proinflammatory states in non‐small cell lung cancer patients

• Published in: Thoracic cancer Vol. 15; no. 2; pp. 111 - 121
• Main Authors: Li, Yangqian, Rao, Guanhua, Zhu, Guonian, Cheng, Cheng, Yuan, Lijuan, Li, Chengpin, Gao, Jianpeng, Tang, Jun, Wang, Zhoufeng, Li, Weimin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd 01-01-2024; John Wiley & Sons, Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: Cancer therapies; cytokine; Cytokines; dysbiosis; Immune system; Inflammation; Lung cancer; Lung diseases; Mann-Whitney U test; metagenomic sequencing; microbiome; Microbiota; Mutation; Original; Surgery; China; cytokine; lung cancer; metagenomic sequencing; microbiome; dysbiosis
• ISSN: 1759-7706; 1759-7714
• DOI: 10.1111/1759-7714.15166

Background
The lung has a sophisticated microbiome, and respiratory illnesses are greatly influenced by the lung microbiota. Despite the fact that numerous studies have shown that lung cancer patients have a dysbiosis as compared to healthy people, more research is needed to explore the association between the microbiota dysbiosis and immune profile within the tumor microenvironment (TME).
Methods
In this study, we performed metagenomic sequencing of tumor and normal tissues from 61 non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and six patients with other lung diseases. In order to characterize the impact of the microbes in TME, the cytokine concentrations of 24 lung tumor and normal tissues were detected using a multiple cytokine panel.
Results
Our results showed that tumors had lower microbiota diversity than the paired normal tissues, and the microbiota of NSCLC was enriched in Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria. In addition, proinflammatory cytokines such as IL‐8, MIF, TNF‐ α, and so on, were significantly upregulated in tumor tissues.
Conclusion
We discovered a subset of bacteria linked to host inflammatory signaling pathways and, more precisely, to particular immune cells. We determined that lower airway microbiome dysbiosis may be linked to the disruption of the equilibrium of the immune system causing lung inflammation. The spread of lung cancer may be linked to specific bacteria.
The lung microbiome plays a crucial role in respiratory health, and its dysbiosis has been associated with lung cancer. This study investigated the relationship between microbiota dysbiosis and immune profiles within the tumor microenvironment (TME) in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Metagenomic sequencing was performed on tumor and normal tissues from 61 NSCLC patients and six patients with other lung diseases. Cytokine concentrations were measured in 24 lung tumor and normal tissues using a multiple cytokine panel. The results showed lower microbiota diversity in tumors compared to paired normal tissues, with enrichment of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria in NSCLC. Proinflammatory cytokines, including IL‐8, MIF, and TNF‐α, were significantly upregulated in tumor tissues. Specific bacteria were linked to host inflammatory signaling pathways and immune cells. Dysbiosis in the lower airway microbiome may disrupt the equilibrium of the immune system and contribute to lung inflammation and the spread of lung cancer.