Transcriptomics profiles in intestinal sulfide overproduction, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, and intestinal methanogen overgrowth.
Juliana de Freitas Germano, Gabriela Leite, Maria Jesus Villanueva-Millan, Daniel Brimberry, Mohamad Rashid, Ava Hosseini, Dilara Flor, Said Bogatyrev, Walter Morales, Stacy Weitsman, Maritza Sanchez, Ignacio Rivera, Cristina Moreno Fajardo, Victoria Murray, Gonzalo Parodi, Margie Parra, Zhe Lyu, Gillian M Barlow, Ali Rezaie, Ruchi Mathur, Mark Pimentel
mSystems
42370695
June 29, 2026
Quality Indicators
Abstract Only: Full text of this study is not publicly available. This summary is based on the abstract only and may be less detailed than usual.
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Study Summary
AI-generated overview of this research
Quick Summary
This study compared gene expression patterns in the small intestine of patients with intestinal sulfide overproduction (ISO), small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), and intestinal methanogen overgrowth (IMO). ISO patients showed the most significant changes in gene activity, particularly affecting cellular energy production and immune response, while SIBO and IMO had fewer effects on gene expression. These findings were partially confirmed in rats given hydrogen sulfide-producing bacteria.
What Was Studied
Researchers examined gene activity (transcriptomics) in small bowel tissue samples from patients with ISO, SIBO, and IMO to understand how these conditions affect the intestinal lining at the cellular level. They also analyzed gene expression in rats that were given hydrogen sulfide-producing bacteria to validate findings from the human samples.
How the Study Was Conducted
The study analyzed small intestinal tissue biopsies from subjects with IMO, ISO (defined as ≥1.5 parts per million hydrogen sulfide on breath testing), and SIBO to compare patterns of gene expression between these conditions. Separately, small bowel tissue from rats gavaged (fed through a tube) with hydrogen sulfide-producing bacteria was analyzed for comparison. Full methodology not publicly available — summary based on abstract only.
Key Findings
- ISO caused widespread changes in genes related to hydrogen sulfide toxicity, including those controlling cellular energy production (electron transport chain) and oxidative stress balance (redox balance genes)
- IMO and SIBO showed fewer significant effects on gene expression compared to ISO, suggesting ISO has a greater impact on the intestinal lining at the cellular level
- Rat studies confirmed the ISO findings, showing disruption in mitochondrial respiration (cellular energy production), redox balance, water regulation, immune response, and gut movement (motility)
- Each condition (ISO, IMO, SIBO) showed a unique gene expression profile, supporting the need for individualized treatment approaches rather than one-size-fits-all therapy
Important Limitations
- Sample size not reported, making it difficult to assess the statistical power and generalizability of the findings
- No pharma funding detected, though full funding details not disclosed in abstract
- Full text not publicly available — summary based on abstract only
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