Keywords
Abstract
This review focuses on the dual regulatory gut microbiota-immune interactions in the context of autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune disorders affect 5-10% of the global population, imposing substantial individual and societal burdens. Emerging studies suggest that there is a gut microbiota-immune system crosstalk which tends to be disrupted in the context of many autoimmune diseases and their pathogenesis. Microbial products, especially short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), influence the Th17/Treg balance along with G protein-coupled receptor signalling and histone deacetylation which is important for maintaining immune homeostasis. This review describes the dysbiosis of gut microbiota in rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases, including the potential of microbiome-based therapies. The exploration of such complex controlling systems stimulates the search for new therapeutic approaches to restore immunity homeostasis and alleviate autoimmune damage.