Metagenomic and metabolomic analysis of gut microbiome's role in spinal cord injury recovery in rats

Spinal cord injury (SCI) induces profound systemic changes, including disruptions in gut microbiome composition and host metabolism. This study aimed to investigate the impact of SCI on gut microbial diversity and serum metabolites in rats, and to explore potential microbiome–metabolite interaction...

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Main Authors: Jieqi Zhang, Xihan Ying, Rong Hu, Yi Huang, Ruoqi Wang, Lei Wu, Dexiong Han, Ruijie Ma, Kelin He
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Association of Basic Medical Sciences of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina 2025-03-01
Series:Biomolecules & Biomedicine
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Online Access:http://www.bjbms.org/ojs/index.php/bjbms/article/view/12164
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author Jieqi Zhang
Xihan Ying
Rong Hu
Yi Huang
Ruoqi Wang
Lei Wu
Dexiong Han
Ruijie Ma
Kelin He
author_facet Jieqi Zhang
Xihan Ying
Rong Hu
Yi Huang
Ruoqi Wang
Lei Wu
Dexiong Han
Ruijie Ma
Kelin He
author_sort Jieqi Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Spinal cord injury (SCI) induces profound systemic changes, including disruptions in gut microbiome composition and host metabolism. This study aimed to investigate the impact of SCI on gut microbial diversity and serum metabolites in rats, and to explore potential microbiome–metabolite interactions that may influence recovery. Male Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were assigned to either SCI or sham-operated groups. Fecal samples were collected for whole-genome metagenomic sequencing, and serum samples were analyzed using untargeted metabolomics. Gut microbial composition and diversity were assessed using α- and β-diversity indices, while Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) identified differentially abundant taxa. Metabolomic pathway analysis was performed to detect significant changes in serum metabolites, and Spearman’s correlation was used to evaluate associations between gut microbes and metabolites. SCI significantly altered gut microbiota composition, with increased proportions of Ligilactobacillus and Staphylococcus, and decreased proportions of Lactobacillus and Limosilactobacillus. Metabolomic analysis revealed disrupted energy metabolism and elevated oxidative stress in SCI rats, as indicated by increased serum levels of pyruvate and lactic acid. Correlation analysis further identified significant associations between specific gut bacteria and key metabolites, suggesting microbiome-driven metabolic dysregulation following SCI. These findings highlight significant interactions between the gut microbiota and host metabolism after SCI and suggest that microbiome-targeted interventions may hold therapeutic potential for improving recovery by modulating metabolic function and oxidative stress responses.
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spelling doaj-art-afc7100a9e4b484da99edbc4976920842025-08-20T03:17:47ZengAssociation of Basic Medical Sciences of Federation of Bosnia and HerzegovinaBiomolecules & Biomedicine2831-08962831-090X2025-03-0110.17305/bb.2025.12164Metagenomic and metabolomic analysis of gut microbiome's role in spinal cord injury recovery in ratsJieqi Zhang0https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3392-3421Xihan Ying1https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8363-4394Rong Hu2Yi Huang3https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6359-9435Ruoqi Wang4https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2491-5039Lei Wu5Dexiong Han6Ruijie Ma7Kelin He8https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5563-6071Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, The Third School of Clinical Medicine (School of Rehabilitation Medicine), Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, ChinaKey Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, The Third School of Clinical Medicine (School of Rehabilitation Medicine), Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, ChinaKey Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, The Third School of Clinical Medicine (School of Rehabilitation Medicine), Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, ChinaKey Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, The Third School of Clinical Medicine (School of Rehabilitation Medicine), Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, ChinaKey Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, The Third School of Clinical Medicine (School of Rehabilitation Medicine), Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, ChinaKey Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, The Third School of Clinical Medicine (School of Rehabilitation Medicine), Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China; Department of Acupuncture, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, ChinaKey Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, The Third School of Clinical Medicine (School of Rehabilitation Medicine), Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China; Department of Acupuncture, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, ChinaKey Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, The Third School of Clinical Medicine (School of Rehabilitation Medicine), Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China; Department of Acupuncture, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, ChinaKey Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, The Third School of Clinical Medicine (School of Rehabilitation Medicine), Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China; Department of Acupuncture, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China Spinal cord injury (SCI) induces profound systemic changes, including disruptions in gut microbiome composition and host metabolism. This study aimed to investigate the impact of SCI on gut microbial diversity and serum metabolites in rats, and to explore potential microbiome–metabolite interactions that may influence recovery. Male Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were assigned to either SCI or sham-operated groups. Fecal samples were collected for whole-genome metagenomic sequencing, and serum samples were analyzed using untargeted metabolomics. Gut microbial composition and diversity were assessed using α- and β-diversity indices, while Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) identified differentially abundant taxa. Metabolomic pathway analysis was performed to detect significant changes in serum metabolites, and Spearman’s correlation was used to evaluate associations between gut microbes and metabolites. SCI significantly altered gut microbiota composition, with increased proportions of Ligilactobacillus and Staphylococcus, and decreased proportions of Lactobacillus and Limosilactobacillus. Metabolomic analysis revealed disrupted energy metabolism and elevated oxidative stress in SCI rats, as indicated by increased serum levels of pyruvate and lactic acid. Correlation analysis further identified significant associations between specific gut bacteria and key metabolites, suggesting microbiome-driven metabolic dysregulation following SCI. These findings highlight significant interactions between the gut microbiota and host metabolism after SCI and suggest that microbiome-targeted interventions may hold therapeutic potential for improving recovery by modulating metabolic function and oxidative stress responses. http://www.bjbms.org/ojs/index.php/bjbms/article/view/12164Spinal cord injurySCImetagenomicsmetabolomicsgut microbiome
spellingShingle Jieqi Zhang
Xihan Ying
Rong Hu
Yi Huang
Ruoqi Wang
Lei Wu
Dexiong Han
Ruijie Ma
Kelin He
Metagenomic and metabolomic analysis of gut microbiome's role in spinal cord injury recovery in rats
Biomolecules & Biomedicine
Spinal cord injury
SCI
metagenomics
metabolomics
gut microbiome
title Metagenomic and metabolomic analysis of gut microbiome's role in spinal cord injury recovery in rats
title_full Metagenomic and metabolomic analysis of gut microbiome's role in spinal cord injury recovery in rats
title_fullStr Metagenomic and metabolomic analysis of gut microbiome's role in spinal cord injury recovery in rats
title_full_unstemmed Metagenomic and metabolomic analysis of gut microbiome's role in spinal cord injury recovery in rats
title_short Metagenomic and metabolomic analysis of gut microbiome's role in spinal cord injury recovery in rats
title_sort metagenomic and metabolomic analysis of gut microbiome s role in spinal cord injury recovery in rats
topic Spinal cord injury
SCI
metagenomics
metabolomics
gut microbiome
url http://www.bjbms.org/ojs/index.php/bjbms/article/view/12164
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