The role of IgE patterns and their link to the gut microbiome in allergic sensitization

Abstract Allergic diseases are heterogeneous conditions shaped by immune pathways and environmental influences, including the gut microbiome. Using cross-sectional data from 508 adults in the KORA FF4 cohort (275 with IgE sensitization, 233 without), we provide a multimodal statistical analysis of deep IgE profiles and concomitant gut microbial amplicon sequencing variant (ASV) data. We identified three latent allergy components in the cohort’s IgE profiles that reflects food, pollen, and house dust mite markers and enables interpretable stratification of the cohort. Contrary to prior studies, microbial diversity did not differ between sensitized and non-sensitized individuals across all cohort strata. Differential abundance analysis identified 61 ASVs, with enrichment in Bacteroidaceae , Oscillospiraceae , and Veillonellaceae families, and depletion in the Lachnospiraceae family. Microbial network analysis further identified altered family-level associations in pollen- and food-sensitized individuals. Taxon set enrichment highlighted folic acid- and vitamin A-producing taxa, with consistent signals from Prevotella copri (depleted) and Bacteroides massiliensis (enriched). Together, our analysis points toward specific microbial families and metabolic groups as correlates of IgE sensitization in an adult population. HIGHLIGHTS IgE sensitization clusters reflect allergen sources and cross-reactive proteins Three latent allergy components capture the IgE profile structure of the entire cohort Distinct IgE patterns are linked to changes in taxa compositions and associations Folic acid– and vitamin A–producing taxa are enriched in IgE-sensitized individuals GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT