The causal role of skin microbiota in rheumatoid arthritis via gut microbiota and immune cell mediation: A Mendelian randomization study - PubMed
3 hours ago
- #rheumatoid arthritis
- #Mendelian randomization
- #skin microbiota
- Six skin microbiota, twenty-five immune cell phenotypes, and nineteen gut microbiota show significant causal associations with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
- Mediation analysis reveals that certain immune cells and gut microbes act as intermediaries, forming a 'skin-gut-immune' axis in RA etiology.
- Specific mediators identified include Eubacterium F sp000434115 mediating the protective effect of Proteobacteria_Dry, and Micrococcaceae_Dry mediating the risk effect of Photobacterium.
- Immune phenotypes like CD3+ Tregs and CX3CR1+ monocytes partially offset microbial risks, suggesting potential immunomodulatory targets.
- The study provides genetic evidence supporting targeting skin and gut microbiota as a novel preventive or therapeutic strategy for RA, such as through probiotics or prebiotics.
- Future research should validate these mechanisms in longitudinal cohorts and explore microbiome-based precision medicine approaches.