Metagenomes and bile acid profiles in IBD

The gut microbiota composition is closely linked to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and therapy response. Bile acids (BAs) are crucial for modulating intestinal immune responses, and dysbiosis can alter the intestinal BA profile. This study investigates whether dysbiosis in IBD affects metabolic pathways for microbial conversion of BAs, host BA composition and BA-induced Takeda G protein-coupled receptor 5 (TGR5) bioactivity. Here, metagenomic sequencing was performed on fecal samples from 61 IBD patients (33 CD, 28 UC) and 21 healthy controls (HC). Microbial BA pathways were analyzed within the metabolic networks. BA profiles in stool and plasma were measured by mass spectrometry, and TGR5 bioactivity was assessed.