Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Longitudinal gut microbiome analyses and blooms of pathogenic strains during lupus disease flares
Authors' conclusion
Our findings rationalise how blooms of the RG pathobiont may be common drivers of clinical flares of often remitting-relapsing lupus disease, and highlight the potential pathogenic properties of specific strains isolated from active LN patients.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and healthy controls, longitudinal faecal sampling
- Exposure
- SLE patients vs healthy controls
- Outcome
- Time-dependent alterations in faecal microbiota communities in relation to disease activity
Methodological detailstaxonomic analyses, including multivariate analysis of ß-diversity, whole genome sequence analysis of isolated strains
- Taxonomic analyses, including multivariate analysis of ß-diversity
- Whole genome sequence analysis of isolated strains
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- RG expansions detected during lupus nephritis (LN) disease flares
- almost half of patients
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Whole genome sequence analysis of RG strains isolated during flares
- Genes postulated to aid adaptation and expansion within a host with an inflammatory condition
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Novel cell membrane-associated lipoglycan of RG strains found during lupus flares
- Common expression of a novel type of cell membrane-associated lipoglycan — the most specific feature of strains found during lupus flares
- Conserved structural features documented by mass spectroscopy, with highly immunogenic repetitive antigenic-determinants
- Recognised by high-level serum IgG2 antibodies arising spontaneously, concurrent with RG blooms and lupus flares
Original publication
Longitudinal gut microbiome analyses and blooms of pathogenic strains during lupus disease flares. Ann Rheum Dis. Published 26 June 2023. doi:10.
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