The Association between Thyroid Function and Commensal Microbiota

Recently the roles of gut microbiota on metabolic disease are widely verified.Thyroid hormones are vital factor regarding regulation of energy homeostasis and metabolic processes. However, the relationship between gut microbiota and thyroid function influenced on host metabolism is rarely investigated.

To determine whether and how gut microbiota associated with thyroid function.

In this study metagenomics analysis was performed through 16S rRNA gene sequencing utilizing hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism rat models which were induced by inducers (T4 and propylthiouracil) or thyroidectomy.

Our results showed that all the thyroid dysfunction models were definitely established and gut microbiota composition was obviously different according to the different thyroid functional status. These alterations may be used to hunt a potential mechanism(s) for regulating thyroid hormone metabolism. Besides, the abundance of S24_7, Prevotella and Prevotellaceae were evidently affected in hypothyroidism status and especially, Prevotellaceae was intensely correlated with thyroid hormone variation.

We demonstrated that the interaction of thyroid hormones and gut microbiota did exist and it suppose that modulation of those bacteria may improves thyroid function. Moreover, this is a new perspective study concerning relationship between thyroid dysfunction and gut microbiota using NGS-based microbial sequencing technology.