Molecular Mimicry Between Gut Microbiome and Rheumatoid Arthritis: Current Concepts
2024

Gut Microbiome and Rheumatoid Arthritis: Key Insights

publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Muruganandam Anandanarayan, Migliorini Filippo, Jeyaraman Naveen, Vaishya Raju, Balaji Sangeetha, Ramasubramanian Swaminathan, Maffulli Nicola, Jeyaraman Madhan

Hypothesis

The gut microbiome plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis through mechanisms like molecular mimicry.

Conclusion

The gut microbiome is intricately linked to rheumatoid arthritis, influencing disease development and treatment responses.

Supporting Evidence

  • Patients with rheumatoid arthritis show significant changes in their gut microbiome composition.
  • Specific bacteria like Prevotella copri are linked to the onset of rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Dysbiosis in the gut microbiome can lead to increased inflammation and autoimmunity.
  • Microbiome-targeted therapies are still in early stages but show promise for managing rheumatoid arthritis.

Takeaway

The bacteria in our gut can affect our health, and changes in these bacteria might be linked to diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.

Methodology

This review synthesizes findings from various studies on the gut microbiome's role in rheumatoid arthritis.

Potential Biases

Potential confounding factors such as diet, medications, and other health conditions may influence microbiome composition.

Limitations

Variability in gut microbiome composition among individuals and challenges in establishing causality between microbiome changes and rheumatoid arthritis.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.3390/medsci12040072

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