Association of HLA-DPB1, NLRP10, OVOL1, and ABCC11 with the axillary microbiome in a Japanese population

Background: The distinct diversity of the human skin microbiome depends not only on the body site but also the individual. Host-commensal interactions have been described for the gut microbiome, but little is known about the epidermal microbiome.

Objective: The present study investigated whether genetic variants associated with skin traits affect the axillary microbiome.

Methods: Eight skin trait-related single nucleotide polymorphisms and HLA-A, -B, -C, and -DPB1 were genotyped in 186 Japanese males. From axillary swabs, the intensity of a representative axillary odor, trans (E) isomer of 3-methyl-2-hexenoic acid (E3M2H), was quantified with gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis, the diversity of the axillary microbiome was evaluated with a 16 s rRNA metagenomic approach, and the association of these characteristics was assessed statistically.

Results: A risk allele for atopic dermatitis of rs878860 in NLRP10 and the allele for wet earwax of rs17822931 in ABCC11 decreased the relative abundance of Corynebacterium. Conversely, these alleles increased the relative abundance of Staphylococcus. Metagenomic analysis revealed that β-diversity showed significant dissimilarity at the weighted Unifrac distance between minor allele carrier and non-carrier groups in HLA-DPB1*05:01, rs17822931, and rs878860. HLA-DPB1*04:01, HLA-DPB1*05:01, and rs17822931 were associated with E3M2H.

Conclusions: We identified novel candidate loci associated with the axillary microbiome and malodor.