Decoding the Hidden Cross-Talk Between the Microbiome and the Immune System

Abstract

The interactions between the development of autoimmune diseases involve complex genetics predisposition, environmental trigger, and immune dysregulation. Microbiota is shown to play a major role in shaping immune responses and recent research has consistently demonstrated the significant interplay between microbiota in gut, skin, and oral microbiomes and disease progression in rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes as well as inflammatory bowel disease. Both mechanisms of molecular mimicry as well as dysbiosis induced inflammation and microbial metabolites that affect immune signaling are explored here. It also discusses novel therapies aimed at targeting the autoimmunity through microbiota targeted therapies, probiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation, among others, in dealing with autoimmune disease. The possibility to learn something from host versus microbe interaction may provide new precision medicine approaches for treating and preventing autoimmune disease.

Keywords: Microbiome Dysbiosis, Autoimmune Disease Pathogenesis, Host-Microbe Interactions, Immune System Modulation, Microbial Metabolites and Immunity