Composition and diversity of meibum microbiota in meibomian gland dysfunction and the correlation with tear cytokine levels
Issued Date
2023-12-01
Resource Type
eISSN
19326203
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85180416775
Pubmed ID
38134040
Journal Title
PLoS ONE
Volume
18
Issue
12 DECEMBER
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
PLoS ONE Vol.18 No.12 DECEMBER (2023)
Suggested Citation
Rasaruck U., Kasetsuwan N., Kittipibul T., Pongchaikul P., Chatsuwan T. Composition and diversity of meibum microbiota in meibomian gland dysfunction and the correlation with tear cytokine levels. PLoS ONE Vol.18 No.12 DECEMBER (2023). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0296296 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/95850
Title
Composition and diversity of meibum microbiota in meibomian gland dysfunction and the correlation with tear cytokine levels
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) leads to meibum stasis and pathogenic bacteria proliferation. We determined meibum microbiota via next-generation sequencing (NGS) and examined their association with tear cytokine levels in patients with MGD. This cross-sectional study included 44 moderate–severe patients with MGD and 44 healthy controls (HCs). All volunteers underwent assessment with the ocular surface disease index questionnaire, Schirmer without anesthesia, tear break-up time, Oxford grading of ocular surface staining, and lid and meibum features. Sample collection included tears for cytokine detection and meibum for 16S rRNA NGS. No significant differences were observed in the α-diversity of patients with MGD compared with that in HCs. However, Simpson’s index showed significantly decreased α-diversity for severe MGD than for moderate MGD (p = 0.045). Principal coordinate analysis showed no significant differences in β-diversity in meibum samples from patients with MGD and HCs. Patients with MGD had significantly higher relative abundances of Bacteroides (8.54% vs. 6.00%, p = 0.015) and Novosphingobium (0.14% vs. 0.004%, p = 0.012) than the HCs. Significantly higher interleukin (IL)-17A was detected in the MGD group than in the HC group, particularly for severe MGD (p = 0.008). Although Bacteroides was more abundant in the MGD group than in the HC group, it was not positively correlated with IL-17A. The relationship between core meibum microbiota and tear cytokine levels remains unclear. However, increased Bacteroides and Novosphingobium abundance may be critical in MGD pathophysiology.