To investigate the associations between lung microbiome genera and airway inflammatory markers across chronic airway diseases.
Key Findings:
Higher abundance of certain lung microbiome genera (e.g., Prevotella, Veillonella) associated with lower airway inflammatory markers.
Modest associations found between some genera and improved lung function, varying by disease state.
Prevotella, Rothia, Streptococcus, and Veillonella linked to lower neutrophil elastase activity.
Neisseria, Prevotella, and Rothia associated with lower interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-8 concentrations.
Actinomyces, Granulicatella, Lautropia, Prevotella, and Veillonella linked to lower tumor necrosis factor alpha concentrations.
Interpretation:
Findings are hypothesis-generating rather than practice-changing; associations may differ across chronic airway diseases.
Limitations:
Most studies were cross-sectional, limiting causal inference.
Inadequate adjustment for confounders such as smoking and corticosteroid use.
Genus-level identification limits interpretation due to the presence of both beneficial and pathogenic species.
Conclusion:
Further species- and strain-level studies are needed to clarify the role of nonpathogenic bacteria in lung health and their potential as therapeutic targets.
