Gut Microbiota and Autoimmune Diseases: Mechanisms, Treatment, Challenges, and Future Recommendations

Abstract

Purpose of ReviewThis review provides an overview of the role of dysbiosis (imbalanced gut microbiota) in the maintenance of host homeostasis and immune function and summarizes recent evidence connecting gut microbiota dysbiosis to the development of autoimmune diseases (ADs) (such as rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, spondyloarthritis, and irritable bowel syndrome). The potential mechanisms that underlie the host-microbiota interaction are also discussed to evaluate the manipulation of the gut microbiota as a potential therapeutic approach to managing ADs. Additionally, this review addresses current challenges in gut microbiota-host research and provides future recommendations.Recent FindingsRecent findings suggested that the pathogenesis of ADs appears to be multifaceted involving both genetic and environmental factors. Dysbiosis or imbalanced gut microbiota has been increasingly identified as one of the main environmental factors that can modulate immune responses and contribute to the development of ADs.SummaryNew research has highlighted the significance of gut microbial dysbiosis in the etiology of numerous diseases. Understanding the relationship between the gut microbiota and the host, however, goes beyond taxonomic concerns, demanding multidisciplinary efforts to design new therapeutic approaches that take individual variances into account.