Correlation between the intestinal microflora and peripheral blood Th1/Th2 balance in hypothyroidism during the first half of pregnancy

Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

Cellular and Infection Microbiology

Yanjie Ban¹  Miao Zhang¹  Qian Ouyang¹  Zongzong Sun¹  Jingjing Li¹  Xin Tian¹  Dong Liu¹  Yanjun Cai¹  Lin Hu¹  Bo Wu¹  Yajuan Xu¹  Yingqi Hao¹ 

[1] Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China;

关键词: hypothyroidism during pregnancy;    Th1 cell;    Th2 cell;    cytokines;    intestinal microflora;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fcimb.2023.1159238

 received in 2023-02-05, accepted in 2023-03-14,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the relationship between intestinal microflora characteristics and the peripheral blood T helper cell (Th)1/Th2 balance in patients with hypothyroidism during the first half of pregnancy.MethodsThe Th1/Th2 ratios in the peripheral blood of pregnant women in the hypothyroidism and control groups were determined using flow cytometry. The cytometric bead array assay was used to determine the serum levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon (IFN)-γ. Moreover, 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing was used to determine the intestinal microbial composition in the two groups. Finally, the relationships between intestinal microflora, Th1/Th2 cells, cytokines, and clinical indicators were analyzed.ResultsC-reactive protein levels were higher in the hypothyroidism group than in the control group. In contrast to the control group, the hypothyroidism group showed an increase in Th1 cells and the Th1/Th2 ratio, and a decrease in Th2 cells. The hypothyroidism group had higher serum IL-2, TNF-α, and IFN-γ levels, and lower IL-10 levels, than the control group. The richness of the intestinal microflora in the hypothyroidism group increased whereas the diversity decreased. The linear discriminant analysis effect size revealed that the hypothyroidism group had a higher abundance of Prevotella and Faecalibacterium, but a lower abundance of Bacteroides, compared to the control group. Prevotella was positively correlated with Th1 cells, the Th1/2 ratio, and TNF-α. Bacteroides was positively correlated with Th2 cells and IL-10, but negatively correlated with Th1 cells, the Th1/2 ratio, TNF-α, and IFN-γ. The thyroid peroxidase antibody level was directly proportional to TNF-α.ConclusionA Th1/Th2 imbalance occurs in patients with hypothyroidism during the first half of pregnancy. Disorders of the intestinal microflora may lead to hypothyroidism during pregnancy by affecting the Th1/Th2 balance.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
Copyright © 2023 Wu, Xu, Ban, Zhang, Sun, Cai, Li, Hao, Ouyang, Hu, Tian and Liu