Exploratory Pilot Multi-Omics Profiling of Gut Microbiota and Metabolic Features in Patients with Prolactinoma

Abstract

Background: Growing evidence suggests a potential role of the gut microbiota in pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs). This exploratory study focused on prolactinoma, the most prevalent PitNET subtype, to preliminarily characterize gut microbial and metabolic features associated with the disease. Materials and Methods: Fecal samples were collected from five patients with hyperprolactinemic prolactinoma and five patients with nonfunctioning (NF) PitNETs. Exploratory metagenomic and metabolomic analyses were performed to profile gut microbiota composition and metabolic alterations. Results: Compared with NF PitNET controls, prolactinoma patients showed distinct trends in gut microbial composition, including increased abundances of Bacteroides and Eubacterium and decreased abundances of Blautia and Clostridium. Metabolomic profiling identified differential metabolic features, including elevated fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids (FAHFAs) and palmitoleic acid, which were mainly associated with glucose and lipid metabolism pathways. Conclusion: This pilot multi-omics analysis provides preliminary evidence of altered gut microbiome–metabolite profiles in prolactinoma. These findings are hypothesis-generating and may support further investigation of gut–pituitary axis interactions in larger, well-powered cohorts.