GlycA, a novel marker for low grade inflammation, reflects gut microbiome diversity and is more accurate than high sensitive CRP in reflecting metabolomic profile

: Kati Mokkala, Noora Houttu, Ella Koivuniemi, Nikolaj Sørensen, Henrik Bjørn Nielsen, Kirsi Laitinen

Publisher: SPRINGER

: 2020

: Metabolomics

: METABOLOMICS

: ARTN 76

: 16

: 7

: 13

: 1573-3882

: 1573-3890

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11306-020-01695-x(external)

: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/48762080(external)

Introduction Gut microbiota is, along with adipose tissue, recognized as a source for many metabolic and inflammatory disturbances that may contribute to the individual's state of health.
Objectives We investigated in cross-sectional setting the feasibility of utilizing GlycA, a novel low grade inflammatory marker, and traditional low grade inflammatory marker, high sensitivity CRP (hsCRP), in reflecting serum metabolomics status and gut microbiome diversity.
Methods Fasting serum samples of overweight/obese pregnant women (n = 335, gestational weeks: mean 13.8) were analysed for hsCRP by immunoassay, GlycA and metabolomics status by NMR metabolomics and faecal samples for gut microbiome diversity by metagenomics. The benefits of GlycA as a metabolic marker were investigated against hsCRP.
Results The GlycA concentration correlated with more of the metabolomics markers (144 out of 157), than hsCRP (55 out of 157) (FDR < 0.05). The results remained essentially the same when potential confounding factors known to associate with GlycA and hsCRP levels were taken into account (P < 0.05). This was attributable to the detected correlations between GlycA and the constituents and concentrations of several sized VLDL-particles and branched chain amino acids, which were statistically non-significant with regard to hsCRP. GlycA, but not hsCRP, correlated inversely with gut microbiome diversity.
Conclusion GlycA is a superior marker than hsCRP in assessing the metabolomic profile and gut microbiome diversity. It is proposed that GlycA may act as a novel marker that reflects both the gut microbiome and adipose tissue originated metabolic aberrations; this proposal will need to be verified with regard to clinical outcomes.

Mokkala2020_Article_GlycAANovelMarkerForLowGradeIn.pdf