Protective Effects of Probiotic Consumption in Cardiovascular Disease in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Néstor De La Visitación,Juan Duarte,Iñaki Robles-Vera,Marta Toral

doi:10.3390/nu11112676

Abstract

The prevalence of renal and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is higher than in general populations. Recently, a causal role of gut microbiota on the development of immune responses in SLE has been described. Probiotic consumption changes the composition of gut microbiota, preventing SLE progression. The aim of this review is to explore the role of the gut microbiota in the development of renal and cardiovascular disease in SLE and how probiotics could be a therapeutic option. Despite strong evidence on the beneficial effects of probiotics in the development of autoimmunity and nephritis in SLE, only a few studies described the protective effects of Lactobacillus in important risk factors for CVD, such as endothelial dysfunction and hypertension in mice. The preventive effects of probiotics in renal and CVD in humans have not been established yet.

Highlights

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by abnormally functioning B lymphocytes [1], which promote an exacerbated production of autoantibodies that trigger the formation and deposition of immune complexes that damage many organs and tissues [2].While the causes are not known, it is widely considered that SLE is the consequence of the effects of environmental factors in genetically predisposed individuals, leading to the disruption of self-tolerance and to the activation/increase in innate immune cells and autoreactive lymphocytes [3].SLE is associated with renal and cardiovascular disease (CVD) [4]
Certain species were elevated in the gut microbiota of SLE [25], Streptococcus anginosus, Lactobacillus mucosae, and Veinella dispar. These changes appeared accompanied by a reduction in Ruminococcus gnavus and Bacteroides uniformis [27]. It might be an important milestone on the subject that Li et al [25] found a positive correlation between the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and the amount of Streptococcus, Campylobacter and S. anginosus in the fecal sample of SLE patients
Caution is advised when extrapolating these findings to humans because of the possible differences in the behavior of the animal and human gut microbiota

Summary

Introduction

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by abnormally functioning B lymphocytes [1], which promote an exacerbated production of autoantibodies that trigger the formation and deposition of immune complexes that damage many organs and tissues [2]. Duration,events chronic hypertension, aresuch present lupus genetic, patients,and theyimmunological do not fully explain the highDisease rate of ischemic damage and activity that are important clinical factors to for disease. This implies other factors inherent itself contribute to the of SLE. We review the changes in the microbiota associated with SLE and discuss current knowledge on the impact of probiotics with immune-modulatory properties in the development of renal and cardiovascular disease on animal models and on human lupus patients as novel therapies

Gut Microbiota and SLE

Dysbiosis in SLE Patients

Dysbiosis in SLE Mice

SLE and Probiotics

Findings

Conclusions