Comparison of gut microbiota compositions and corresponding genetic and metabolic features between guttate and plaque psoriasis by metagenomic sequencing

Background: Guttate psoriasis (GP) and psoriasis plaques (PP) are common subtypes of psoriasis. Previous studies have fully researched the association between psoriasis and gut microbiota. However, the differences in gut microbiota between GPs and PPs are still unknown. Methods: Fecal samples were collected from 30 psoriatic patients (15 GP and 15 PP) and 15 healthy subjects. Metagenomic sequencing was then used to compare gut microbiota compositions and corresponding genetic and metabolic features between GP and PP. Results: We found that the genus Megamonas was increased in PP and reduced in GP. The genus Eubacterium was increased in GP and decreased in PP. Ten KEGG pathway were significantly enriched in GP: bacterial secretion system, ribosome, sphingolipid signaling pathway, steroid hormone biosynthesis, complement and coagulation cascades, proteoglycans in cancer, FOXO signaling pathway, cGMP-PKG signaling pathway, insulin resistance, and Epstein-Barr virus infection. Ten metabolites were significantly differentially abundant between GP and PP. Among them, thiamine, biotin, butylamine, phenylethylamine, folic acid, 1,2-propanediol, and 4-aminobutyrate were enriched in PP and L-glutamate, L-glutamine, and propanoate were enriched in GP. Conclusions: These results provide a theoretical basis for the microbiome-guided stratification of patients with psoriasis.