Several metagenomic investigation of gut microbiome showed correlation with autoimmune disorders but to date only few studies focused on the structure of gut microbiome in patients with Alopecia Areata (AA) and the possible interaction with gut metabolites. Here, we combined meta-genomic and metabolomics to thoroughly characterize and compare faecal and urine samples from AA patients and healthy individuals (HI) with the aim of identifying presumptive bacterial and metabolic markers of the disease. Eighteen HI and twenty-six AA patients (20–60 years old; 40% male) were enrolled under dermatological control. Firstly, we extensively investigated the genus core microbiota to provide bacterial re-classification and relative abundances. Chao1, Simpson, Shannon and Fisher's alpha indices revealed the microbiota richness. A decrease in α-diversity was found in patients with AA disorders. Relative abundances at phylum level did not show marked differences between AA patients and HI. The only exception was for Lactococcus and Eubacterium ventriosum group, that showed an increase in their relative abundance in AA patients.
At the metabolic level, a more dysregulated function in AA patients was found for the production of certain metabolites such as pentanoic, butanoic and 2-methylbutyric acid.
In conclusion, we found that some components of the faecal microbiota, especially in terms of diversity, could be related to AA disease. Further research aiming to investigate the pathogenic mechanism of selected genera that might be involved in the onset of AA, and the role that the metabolome of AA patients plays with the immune system during the stages of the disease are needed.

LB018 - Intestinal microbiota and faecal and urine metabolites of patients with Alopecia Areata

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