Two-way interaction between MTX and Sprague Dawley rat gut microbiome

Amplicon sequencing was used to characterise the dose-dependent impact of methotrexate treatment on the faecal microbial profile of rats. In parallel, untargeted and targeted UPLC-MS approaches were performed to explore the impact of methotrexate on the global urinary and faecal metabolic profiles of rats and to quantify a microbial-derived methotrexate metabolite and determine its excretion. The overall aim of the study was to explore the impact of methotrexate on the metabolic and microbial profile as well as the impact of gut microbial metabolism on methotrexate detoxification and how the two actions interact.