Short-chain fatty acids and their gut microbial pathways distinguish rheumatoid arthritis in discordant monozygotic twins
Authors' conclusion
Multiomics biomarkers differentiate MZ twins discordant for RA. Faecal butyrate and propionate, as well as SCFA-producing bacteria, were decreased in affected twins. We found a similar decrease in SCFA-producing taxa in affected twins in a geographically distinct cohort in the UK.
Study context
- Population
- Monozygotic (MZ) twins discordant for RA, United States (US) (8 pairs); validation in UK twin registry (TwinsUK, N = 14)8 twin pairs, US
- Participants
- 16 participants
- Comparison
- Affected RA twins vs unaffected co-twins
- USn = 16
- TwinsUKn = 14
- Outcome
- Host and microbial biomarkers of RA
Methodological detailsmultiomics approach, shotgun metagenomic sequencing, gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS), external validation cohort (TwinsUK)
- Multiomics approach
- Shotgun metagenomic sequencing
- GC-MS
- External validation cohort (TwinsUK)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Microbiome diversity and composition did not differ between twins
- Significant decrease in SCFA-producing bacterium Blautia faecis in affected RA twins (US)
- Significantly lower faecal butyrate and propionate concentrations in affected RA twins (US)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Validation cohort (TwinsUK)
- Similar reduction in SCFA-producers Gemmiger formicilis and Faecalicatena fissicatena, and in bacterial SCFA metabolism pathways
- N = 14
Original publication
Short-chain fatty acids and their gut microbial pathways distinguish rheumatoid arthritis in discordant monozygotic twins. Ann Rheum Dis. Published 29 September 2025. doi:10.
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