Analysis of Gut Microbiota in Patients with Exacerbated Symptoms of Schizophrenia following Therapy with Amisulpride: A Pilot Study

Evidence is mounting that the gut microbiome is related to the underlying pathogenesis of schizophrenia. However, effects of amisulpride on gut microbiota are poorly defined. This study was aimed at analyzing cytokines and fecal microbiota in patients with exacerbated symptoms of schizophrenia treat...

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Main Authors: Jinchi Zheng, Zeya Lin, Chih-Yuan Ko, Jian-Hua Xu, Yichuan Lin, Jinyi Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-01-01
Series:Behavioural Neurology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/4262094
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author Jinchi Zheng
Zeya Lin
Chih-Yuan Ko
Jian-Hua Xu
Yichuan Lin
Jinyi Wang
author_facet Jinchi Zheng
Zeya Lin
Chih-Yuan Ko
Jian-Hua Xu
Yichuan Lin
Jinyi Wang
author_sort Jinchi Zheng
collection DOAJ
description Evidence is mounting that the gut microbiome is related to the underlying pathogenesis of schizophrenia. However, effects of amisulpride on gut microbiota are poorly defined. This study was aimed at analyzing cytokines and fecal microbiota in patients with exacerbated symptoms of schizophrenia treated with amisulpride during four weeks of their hospital stay. In the present study, feces collected from patients with schizophrenia were analyzed using 16S rRNA pyrosequencing and bioinformatic analyses to ascertain gut microbiome composition and fasting peripheral blood cytokines. We found that patients undergoing treatment of schizophrenia with amisulpride had distinct changes in gut microbial composition at the genus level, increased levels of short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria (Dorea and Butyricicoccus), and reduced levels of pathogenic bacteria (Actinomyces and Porphyromonas), but the level of Desulfovibrio was still high. We also found a significant downregulation of butanoate metabolism based on functional analysis of the microbiome. After treatment, elevated levels of interleukin- (IL-) 4 and decreased levels of IL-6 were found. Our findings extend prior work and suggest a possible pharmacological mechanism of amisulpride treatment for schizophrenia, which acts via mediation of the gut microbiome.
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spelling doaj-art-16b6f269e8ce4defb5bc3d1ae76fc3d92025-08-20T03:54:32ZengWileyBehavioural Neurology1875-85842022-01-01202210.1155/2022/4262094Analysis of Gut Microbiota in Patients with Exacerbated Symptoms of Schizophrenia following Therapy with Amisulpride: A Pilot StudyJinchi Zheng0Zeya Lin1Chih-Yuan Ko2Jian-Hua Xu3Yichuan Lin4Jinyi Wang5The Third Hospital of QuanzhouThe Third Hospital of QuanzhouDepartment of Clinical NutritionDepartment of Tumor SurgeryThe Third Hospital of QuanzhouThe Third Hospital of QuanzhouEvidence is mounting that the gut microbiome is related to the underlying pathogenesis of schizophrenia. However, effects of amisulpride on gut microbiota are poorly defined. This study was aimed at analyzing cytokines and fecal microbiota in patients with exacerbated symptoms of schizophrenia treated with amisulpride during four weeks of their hospital stay. In the present study, feces collected from patients with schizophrenia were analyzed using 16S rRNA pyrosequencing and bioinformatic analyses to ascertain gut microbiome composition and fasting peripheral blood cytokines. We found that patients undergoing treatment of schizophrenia with amisulpride had distinct changes in gut microbial composition at the genus level, increased levels of short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria (Dorea and Butyricicoccus), and reduced levels of pathogenic bacteria (Actinomyces and Porphyromonas), but the level of Desulfovibrio was still high. We also found a significant downregulation of butanoate metabolism based on functional analysis of the microbiome. After treatment, elevated levels of interleukin- (IL-) 4 and decreased levels of IL-6 were found. Our findings extend prior work and suggest a possible pharmacological mechanism of amisulpride treatment for schizophrenia, which acts via mediation of the gut microbiome.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/4262094
spellingShingle Jinchi Zheng
Zeya Lin
Chih-Yuan Ko
Jian-Hua Xu
Yichuan Lin
Jinyi Wang
Analysis of Gut Microbiota in Patients with Exacerbated Symptoms of Schizophrenia following Therapy with Amisulpride: A Pilot Study
Behavioural Neurology
title Analysis of Gut Microbiota in Patients with Exacerbated Symptoms of Schizophrenia following Therapy with Amisulpride: A Pilot Study
title_full Analysis of Gut Microbiota in Patients with Exacerbated Symptoms of Schizophrenia following Therapy with Amisulpride: A Pilot Study
title_fullStr Analysis of Gut Microbiota in Patients with Exacerbated Symptoms of Schizophrenia following Therapy with Amisulpride: A Pilot Study
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of Gut Microbiota in Patients with Exacerbated Symptoms of Schizophrenia following Therapy with Amisulpride: A Pilot Study
title_short Analysis of Gut Microbiota in Patients with Exacerbated Symptoms of Schizophrenia following Therapy with Amisulpride: A Pilot Study
title_sort analysis of gut microbiota in patients with exacerbated symptoms of schizophrenia following therapy with amisulpride a pilot study
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/4262094
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