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Exploring the Complex Relationship Between Microbiota and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by various autoantibodies and multi-organ. Microbiota dysbiosis in the gut, skin, oral, and other surfaces has a significant impact on SLE development. This article summarizes relevant research and provides new microbiome-related strategies for exploring the mechanisms and treating patients with SLE.

Recent Findings

SLE patients have disruptions in multiple microbiomes, with the gut microbiota (bacteria, viruses, and fungi) and their metabolites being the most thoroughly researched. This dysbiosis can promote SLE progression through mechanisms such as the leaky gut, molecular mimicry, and epigenetic regulation.

Summary

Notwithstanding study constraints on the relationship between microbiota and SLE, specific interventions targeting the gut microbiota, such as probiotics, dietary management, and fecal microbiota transplantation, have emerged as promising SLE therapeutics.

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Data Availability

Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study.

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Acknowledgements

Figure 1 was created by Yu Lei using software available at Biorender.com.

Funding

This work is supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2022YFC3601800), the CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences (CIFMS) No.2021-I2M-1–059, the Non-profit Central Research Institute Fund of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2020-RC320-003), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81830097), and the Special Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 32141004).

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Author notes

  1. Yu Lei and Qianmei Liu have contributed equally to this work and share the first authorship.

  2. Qianjin Lu and Ming Zhao jointly supervised this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing, China

    Yu Lei, Qianmei Liu, Qilin Li, Cheng Zhao, Ming Zhao & Qianjin Lu

  2. Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research on Immune-Mediated Skin Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, China

    Yu Lei, Qianmei Liu, Qilin Li, Cheng Zhao, Ming Zhao & Qianjin Lu

  3. Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIs, Nanjing, China

    Yu Lei, Qianmei Liu, Qilin Li, Cheng Zhao, Ming Zhao & Qianjin Lu

  4. Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China

    Yu Lei, Qilin Li, Cheng Zhao, Ming Zhao & Qianjin Lu

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  1. Yu Lei
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Correspondence to Ming Zhao or Qianjin Lu.

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Lei, Y., Liu, Q., Li, Q. et al. Exploring the Complex Relationship Between Microbiota and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Curr Rheumatol Rep 25, 107–116 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11926-023-01102-z

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