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Altered gut microbiota seen in patients with psoriatic arthritis
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Patients with psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis showed a lower number of multiple intestinal bacteria and decreased overall diversity of species, according to newly published data.
Sixteen patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), 15 patients with psoriasis and 17 healthy control participants with no history of either disease, other autoimmune disease, IBD or inflammatory arthritis were included in the study. All patients with psoriatic diseases had active skin lesions at the time of inclusion. None of the individuals with PsA or psoriasis had used biologics or disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.
Fecal samples were obtained from all participants within 24 hours of production. DNA was extracted from the samples and was analyzed to determine phylogenic classification of bacteria. Microbial diversity was estimated by calculating Faith’s phylodiversity index or the Shannon diversity index. Serum secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA), fatty acids and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles were also measured. The LefSe analytic method (linear discriminant analytic method coupled with effect size measurements) was used to identify abundant bacterial taxa between the three participant groups.
The genera Akkermansia, Ruminococcus and Pseudobutyrivibrio were shown to differentiate between the gut microbiota in patients with PsA from that within healthy controls. Unclassified Clostridia and the parental taxonomic levels of Akkermansia (Verrucomicrobia, Verrucomicrobiae and Verrucomicrobiales) were also significantly decreased in patients with PsA, according to the researchers.
Patients with psoriasis showed reduced numbers of Parabacteroides and Coprobacillus. Compared with the psoriasis group, the PsA group showed significantly reduced numbers of the higher taxonomic levels of Akkermansia and Ruminococcus, whereas Bacterioidetes and Coprobacillus were fewer in number in the psoriasis group.
Patients in the PsA group showed increased levels of secretory IgA and reduced receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) levels. Other differences in fatty acid levels were seen between participants, according to the researchers. – by Shirley Pulawski
Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.
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