Airway microbiome diversity, intra-mucosal bacteria, and spatial immunity in asthmatics and controls
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Rationale
Asthma is characterized by disruption of the thoracic airway mucosae and loss of microbial diversity. Spatial profiling of the mucosal transcriptome may systematically discover mechanisms for microbial influences on immunity.
Objectives
We investigated relationships between clinical measures, microbial communities, and the host mucosal transcriptome within different strata of bronchial biopsies in subjects with and without asthma.
Methods
We bronchoscoped 65 adult asthmatics and 44 healthy controls, quantifying bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in bronchial brushings by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequences. Biopsy histologic features were scored blind to diagnosis. Following 16S rRNA in situ hybridization of 44 biopsies, bacterial foci were scored in epithelium, basement membrane and stroma. Global human gene expression was quantified in epithelial and stromal compartments using Digital Spatial Profiling.
Measurements and main results
Clinical asthma was independently predicted by basement membrane abnormalities (BaseMA), endobronchial bacterial diversity and circulating eosinophil counts, but not by specific OTU abundances. 16S rRNA staining revealed bacteria within epithelium and mucosa of all biopsies. Intra-mucosal bacteria (IMCBs) counts correlated negatively with spatially organized co-expression networks encoding antigen-specific immunity, neutrophil functions, and matrix activation, whereas BaseMA correlated positively with the adaptive immunity module. Eosinophil counts correlated with epithelial bacterial counts and senescence pathways. Clinical asthma was accompanied by upregulation of a Treg cell network.
Conclusions
Asthma and its related phenotypes are accompanied by complex mucosal events that extend beyond eosinophilic pathways. Components of diverse airway microbiota may modify immunity by beneficial interactions within the mucosa.
Asthma is characterized by disruption of the thoracic airway mucosae and loss of microbial diversity. Spatial profiling of the mucosal transcriptome may systematically discover mechanisms for microbial influences on immunity.
Objectives
We investigated relationships between clinical measures, microbial communities, and the host mucosal transcriptome within different strata of bronchial biopsies in subjects with and without asthma.
Methods
We bronchoscoped 65 adult asthmatics and 44 healthy controls, quantifying bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in bronchial brushings by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequences. Biopsy histologic features were scored blind to diagnosis. Following 16S rRNA in situ hybridization of 44 biopsies, bacterial foci were scored in epithelium, basement membrane and stroma. Global human gene expression was quantified in epithelial and stromal compartments using Digital Spatial Profiling.
Measurements and main results
Clinical asthma was independently predicted by basement membrane abnormalities (BaseMA), endobronchial bacterial diversity and circulating eosinophil counts, but not by specific OTU abundances. 16S rRNA staining revealed bacteria within epithelium and mucosa of all biopsies. Intra-mucosal bacteria (IMCBs) counts correlated negatively with spatially organized co-expression networks encoding antigen-specific immunity, neutrophil functions, and matrix activation, whereas BaseMA correlated positively with the adaptive immunity module. Eosinophil counts correlated with epithelial bacterial counts and senescence pathways. Clinical asthma was accompanied by upregulation of a Treg cell network.
Conclusions
Asthma and its related phenotypes are accompanied by complex mucosal events that extend beyond eosinophilic pathways. Components of diverse airway microbiota may modify immunity by beneficial interactions within the mucosa.
Date Issued
2026-09-01
Date Acceptance
2026-03-24
Citation
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2026, 212 (9), pp.1962-1974
ISSN
1073-449X
Publisher
American Thoracic Society
Start Page
1962
End Page
1974
Journal / Book Title
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
Volume
212
Issue
9
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2026. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Thoracic Society. All rights reserved. This is the author’s accepted manuscript made available under a CC-BY licence in accordance with Imperial’s Research Publications Open Access policy (www.imperial.ac.uk/oa-policy)
License URL
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
aamag232
Date Publish Online
2026-05-09