Abstract
Alterations of the gut microbiota after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) are a key factor in the development of transplant-related complications such as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Interventions that preserve the gut microbiome hold promise to improve HCT-associated morbidity and mortality. Murine models demonstrate that prebiotics such as fructo-oligosaccharides (FOSs) may increase gut levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as butyrate and consequently induce proliferation of immunomodulatory FOXP3+CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), which impact GVHD risk. We conducted a pilot phase I trial to investigate the maximum tolerated dose of FOS in patients undergoing reduced-intensity allo-HCT (n = 15) compared with concurrent controls (n = 16). We administered the FOS starting at pretransplant conditioning and continuing for a total of 21 days. We characterized the gut microbiome using shotgun metagenomic sequencing, measured stool short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and determined peripheral T cell concentrations using cytometry by time-of-flight. We found that FOS was safe and well-tolerated at 10 g/d without significant adverse effects in patients undergoing allo-HCT. Community-level gut microbiota composition differed significantly on the day of transplant (day 0) between patients receiving FOS and concurrent controls; however, FOS-associated alterations of the gut microbiota were not sustained after transplant. Although the impact of FOS was fleeting, transplantation itself impacted a substantial number of taxa over time. In our small pilot trial, no significant differences were observed in gut microbial metabolic pathways, stool SCFAs, or peripheral Tregs, although Tregs trended higher in those patients who received FOS. A marker of CD4+ T cell activation (namely, CTLA4+) was significantly higher in patients receiving FOS, whereas a non-significant trend existed for FOP3+CD4+ Treg cells, which were higher in those receiving FOS compared with controls. FOS is well tolerated at 10 g/d in patients undergoing reduced-intensity allo-HCT. Although the alterations in gut microbiota and peripheral immune cell composition in those receiving FOS are intriguing, additional studies are required to investigate the use of prebiotics in HCT recipients.