Can microbiomes in our gut lead to rheumatoid arthritis?

We've long suspected a connection between the immune system and our gut. In fact, many of us with autoimmune diseases develop food sensitivities to foods like gluten and dairy.

Scientists have now identified a bacteria that is only found in the intestines of people with rheumatoid arthritis and not in healthy individuals—Subdoligranulum didolesgii. Moreover, when scientists gave oral doses of the bacteria to mice, they found that the mice began to develop joint swelling and antibodies attacking the joints within 14 days.

Many immune responses naturally occur in the intestines, with our immune system attacking the microbiome to maintain balance of the good and bad bacteria. These immune responses have usually been contained in gut, with a "firewall" that prevents the antibodies from bypassing the intestines.

Scientists hypothesize that a particularly strong intestinal immune response against this particular bacteria may have somehow spread beyond the intestines to other parts of the body. Once outside of the intestines, the antibodies for the bacteria then trigger an immune attack against the joints, leading some people to develop rheumatoid arthritis.

The more we learn about the origins of autoimmune diseases, the more potential paths we have to discovering a treatment. To support the Autoimmune Registry, please register and share our mission with others who have autoimmune diseases. Donations are also greatly appreciated!