In a study published in 2006, scientists at UT Health San Antonio, an academic health center at the University of Texas at San Antonio, discovered a link between bacteria in the gut microbiome, or ecosystem, and lupus, which could lead to more effective treatments for the disease. nature communications.
Systemic lupus erythematosus is the most common form of lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease that affects approximately 1.5 million Americans. There is no cure for this disease, and current treatments only manage symptoms and prevent organ damage. Symptoms of lupus can vary, and many people visit different doctors over the years in search of relief.
Researchers at UT San Antonio’s Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine discovered this bacterium. Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, F. prausnitzii, It is depleted in the gut microbiome of lupus patients. This study showed that bacterial supplementation significantly reduced disease markers in animal models.
This is the first time in lupus research that we have identified a bacteria that is depleted and then comes back to help. ”
Dr. Lawrence Morrell, Professor and Distinguished Chair of the Zachary Foundation Division of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics
Morel and Dr. Yong Ge, an assistant professor in the department, led a groundbreaking study that uncovered a link between the gut microbiome and lupus..
What is Lupus?
Lupus is a disease in which the immune system attacks the body’s healthy tissues and organs, causing inflammation in the joints, skin, brain, heart, lungs, and other organs.
The current standard of care for symptom management is immunosuppressive drugs such as steroids. Although effective, it has side effects such as weight gain, swelling, cardiovascular complications, and may make you more susceptible to infections. In fact, the leading cause of death from lupus is infection.
Scientists have been studying the relationship between the gut microbiome and lupus for about a decade. Previous studies have shown that the gut microbiota of lupus patients is different from that of healthy people. At least three bacterial strains have been identified that are involved in the progression of lupus.
How the gut affects the immune response
Prior to this current study, Ge conducted the following studies. F. Prausnitzi Increases the ability of healthy intestinal bacteria to digest dietary fiber.
F. Prausnitzi It reduces inflammation by producing butyrate, one of the most common short-chain fatty acids. Butyrate is the main energy source for the cells lining the colon that maintain a barrier called mucin between the intestines and the rest of the body. Butyrate is produced when “good bacteria” in your intestines digest dietary fiber. When there is less F. Prausnitzithe fibers are not processed sufficiently and the mucin inner layer is destroyed.
“When there are fewer bacteria digesting fiber, there are fewer short-chain fatty acids, making it more prone to inflammation,” Ge says.
The research team found that bacterial reintroduction partially restored immune regulation and also showed positive effects on the kidneys and spleen. Although the exact mechanism of this bacteria is not fully understood, Ge said it appears to have the indirect effect of modifying the microbiome by instructing the bacteria to digest less mucin and more fiber, promoting better gut health.
“We were very excited that a single probiotic strain could do so much,” Ge said.
Not all probiotics are the same
Probiotics have become a popular supplement, and many people include yogurt and fermented foods in their diets to support digestive health. but, F. Prausnitzi It has beneficial properties that are unique to the strain and not found in typical commercially available probiotic products.
This bacterium is very sensitive to oxygen and is quickly inactivated when exposed to air. It also depletes quickly and requires frequent treatments to maintain levels. While being treated with probiotics, F. Prausnitzi Although it looks promising, further research is needed to fully understand its role in the microbiome and assess its benefits.
what happens next
Morel said the next steps in the research will include further investigation of the metabolites to discover which cell populations are associated with immune defense and inflammation. If certain metabolites have beneficial effects, this could represent another avenue for future lupus treatment. The research team is also conducting research into the effects of diet, the microbiome, and the immune system.
“We want to bring all of this together to do mechanistic, rigorous studies linking different carbohydrates in the diet to health outcomes,” Morrell said.
sauce:
University of Texas San Antonio Health Science Center
Reference magazines:
Zhao N. others. (2026). Multi-omics-based discovery of protective microbiome signatures in lupus-onset mice treated with Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. nature communications. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-71718-z. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-71718-z
