Lupus and IBD Share Microbiome Features

Analysis of metagenomic datasets from patients with 6 autoimmune conditions revealed significant overlaps in microbial signatures of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), indicating shared microbial mechanisms, according to a study published in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases.

The researchers analyzed metagenomic datasets from patients with SLE, IBD, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, Graves' disease, and ankylosing spondylitis, and compared them to metagenomes for colorectal cancer. The authors noted that they “focused on identifying predictive biomarkers from species profiles and functional genes, integrating protein-protein interaction analyses to explore effector-like proteins and their targets in key signaling pathways.”

Distinct microbial signatures were identified across the autoimmune conditions, with significant overlaps between SLE and IBD, indicating shared microbial mechanisms. Predictive biomarkers highlighted the varied microbial influences in these diseases. Protein-protein interaction analyses revealed significant interactions with glucocorticoid signaling, antigen presentation, and interleukin-12 signaling pathways, offering insights into common disease mechanisms. Experimental validation confirmed interactions between the host glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1) and gut bacteria-derived proteins, which may have therapeutic implications for inflammatory disorders like SLE and IBD.

The study highlights the pivotal role of the gut microbiome in autoimmune diseases and its potential for uncovering shared and distinct microbial signatures. These findings emphasize the importance of microbial biomarkers in understanding disease mechanisms and could pave the way for new therapeutic approaches based on microbial profiles in autoimmune conditions.

Reference
Zhou H, Balint D, Shi Q, Vartanian T, Kriegel MA, Brito I. Lupus and inflammatory bowel disease share a common set of microbiome features distinct from other autoimmune disorders. Ann Rheum Dis. Published online September 18, 2024. doi:10.1136/ard-2024-225829