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Leeds, UK — Researchers have identified significant shifts in gut microbiome composition that may signal the onset of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), opening a potential window for early intervention and targeted treatments. This discovery, made by a team from the University of Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, may lead to personalized preventive strategies for those at heightened risk of RA.
The study tracked 124 individuals considered at risk of developing RA over a period of 15 months. Researchers found that individuals who later developed RA showed a higher presence of gut bacteria linked to inflammation nearly 10 months before clinical symptoms emerged. This early microbial signal could help in identifying those at risk of RA and enable targeted prevention.
To gain a comprehensive picture, participants were monitored using stool and blood samples at five different intervals. Among the cohort, seven were newly diagnosed with RA, while 22 remained healthy throughout the study. Over the study period, 30 participants in the at-risk group developed RA, presenting marked reductions in microbial diversity compared to the healthy control group. Key risk factors, including precursor antibodies known as anti-cyclic citrullinated protein (anti-CCP) antibodies, joint pain, and steroid use, were linked with these microbiome changes. Additionally, reduced microbial diversity correlated with recognized genetic, blood, and imaging risk factors for RA.
A specific bacterial strain within the Prevotellaceae family, likely identified as Prevotella copri (ASV2058), was particularly prevalent in individuals who developed or were newly diagnosed with RA. Another strain of P. copri (ASV1867) was also noted at the study’s onset, suggesting a role of these gut bacteria in RA progression.
“Individuals at risk of rheumatoid arthritis harbor a distinctive gut microbial composition, including but not limited to an overabundance of Prevotellaceae species. This microbial signature is consistent and correlates with traditional risk factors,” the researchers stated in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. While these findings offer a promising insight into RA’s early indicators, the researchers emphasize that further studies are necessary to establish causation and fully understand the microbiome’s role in RA.
This study not only sheds light on the gut’s role in inflammatory diseases but also holds promise for advancing preventive and personalized RA treatment approaches through microbial targeting.
