A gut bacteria shows promising attributes as a future rheumatoid arthritis treatment

A bacteria found in the gut may be a novel therapy for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, experts explain in Arthritis & Rheumatology.

We know that rheumatoid arthritis is associated with an imbalance of bacteria in the gut. So a team decided to test if a human gut bacteria called Prevotella histicola could modulate immune response and treat arthritis.

Arthritis-susceptible mice were treated with P histicola and disease incidence, onset, and severity were monitored. The mice exhibited significantly decreased incidence and severity of arthritis compared to controls.

“Our results demonstrate that enteral exposure to P histicola suppresses arthritis via mucosal regulation,” the researchers conclude. “P histicola is a unique commensal that can be explored as a novel therapy for rheumatoid arthritis and may have few or no side effects.”

Click here to read the original research.

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