Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
Fulterer, D.
The role of the gut microbiota in tumor-induced cachexia
Humanmedizin; [ Diplomarbeit ] Graz Medical University; 2021. pp. 72
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- Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz:
- Betreuer*innen:
- Moissl-Eichinger Christine
- Pichler Martin
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- Background Changes of the gut microbiome are associated with the development of multiple (chronic) diseases, including cancer and tumor-induced cachexia. Analysis of the microbiome could provide important information and possibly serve as a new therapeutic strategy. Material & Methods This thesis aims to compare changes in the gut microbiome in relation to tumor-induced cachexia in three independent mouse cohorts inoculated with cachexigenic or non-cachexigenic cancer cells. Tumor growth and body weight was monitored throughout the study and fecal samples were taken at different time points with the progression of cachexia. Extracted DNA from murine fecal samples was subjected to PCR and NGS-based amplicon sequencing. To analyze the microbial community composition and taxonomic diversity the obtained raw reads were processed through a Galaxy pipeline, using QIIME2. Calypso was used to calculate alpha and beta diversities, differences in community composition, and visualize the results. Results and Discussion A shift in microbiota composition and a decrease of bacterial diversity and richness was detectable with progression of cachexia in all three murine studies. Moreover, cachectic mice showed changes in abundance of specific microbes, notably a significant increase of Lactobacillus spp. was observed. Regarding specific microbial profiles associated with tumor-induced cachexia, our findings provide partly different results when compared to other research. More studies, above all with human subjects, will be needed in this young field of research to determine the role of the microbiome in tumor-induced cachexia and to potentially establish a new therapeutic approach.