In a new study, researchers looked to identify unique biomarkers and shared microbial mechanisms among different autoimmune diseases and found that the gut microbiome plays a critical role. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, a group of intestinal disorders that cause inflammation of the digestive tract) share a common set of microbiome features that are distinct and suggest shared microbial underpinnings.
Researchers analyzed datasets from patient cohorts of six autoimmune conditions, SLE, IBD, multiple sclerosis (a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system), myasthenia gravis (a neuromuscular disorder that affects the communication between nerves and muscles), Graves’ disease (an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid), ankylosing spondylitis (a type of arthritis characterized by long-term inflammation of the spine), and Colorectal Cancer (CRC). Fecal samples from people with autoimmune diseases (78 total samples) and healthy controls (46 total samples) were collected and processed.
Using machine learning models, analyzing taxonomic signatures, microbial functions, and host-microbiome protein-protein interactions (PPI), researchers identified commonalities between SLE and IBD, including shared microbial features and functional contributions. The PPI analysis highlighted key signaling pathways, like glucocorticoid and interleukin-12 signaling, which may play a role in disease mechanisms. Additionally, researchers saw increases in B cell clones in both SLE and IBD, and also identified key host-microbiome PPIs that may offer novel microbiome-based therapeutic opportunities.
Future studies are needed to further investigate gut microbiome and immune system interaction to help identify potential therapeutic targets. Learn more about lupus and the digestive system.
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