Fusobacterium nucleatum, a Gut Microbe, Plays a Key Role in Rheumatoid Arthritis Pathogenesis

F. nucleatum triggers synovial inflammation in RA by delivering outer membrane vesicles bearing the protein FadA to the joints.

The gut microbiome has been increasingly recognized for its significant roles in the pathophysiology of autoimmune disease. Through their study of the microbe Fusobacterium nucleatum, Hong et al. further establish the gut microbiome as a key mediator of inflammation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Abundance of F. nucleatum in stool samples from patients with RA correlated strongly with RA disease activity as evaluated with several markers. When F. nucleatum versus E. coli (control) was given to mice with collagen-induced arthritis, more-severe arthritis (e.g., higher serum inflammatory cytokines, greater bone erosion) was observed in mice receiving F. nucleatum; moreover, treatment with metronidazole significantly attenuated this…

Reviewing Author

George Sakoulas, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardParatek Pharmaceuticals; Nestle Corp.; AbbVie; Shionogi

Speaker’s BureauAllergan/AbbVie; Paratek Pharmaceuticals; Nestle Corp.

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsAntimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy; Open Forum Infectious Diseases