Role of the intestinal flora-immunity axis in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis-mechanisms regulating short-chain fatty acids and Th17/Treg homeostasis

Abstract

Background: The pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic systemic autoimmune disease, is closely linked to the interactions between intestinal flora and metabolites. Recent research has shown that the "gut-joint axis" is an important regulator of immune homeostasis, gut microbiota dysbiosis not only causes pro-inflammatory bacteria to proliferate abnormally, but it also decreases the biosynthesis of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). This dual imbalance ultimately exacerbates synovial inflammation and encourages bone destruction by upsetting the balance of Th17/Treg cells, that is, the over-activation of Th17 cells and the impaired function of regulatory T cells (Treg).

Objective: To clarify the molecular mechanism by which intestinal flora-derived SCFAs alter the pathogenic process of RA by controlling Th17/Treg balance, and to establish a theoretical foundation for targeted treatments.

Methods: We integrated multidisciplinary evidence to create a "flora-SCFAs-immunity-joints" by conducting a systematic search of domestic and international literature in PubMed, Web of Science, and other databases over the past ten years, with a focus on intestinal flora composition, SCFA biosynthesis, Th17/Treg immunoregulation, and RA animal model research. We create a "flora-SCFAs-immunity-joint" network by integrating information from many disciplines.

Outcomes: Dietary fiber is broken down by intestinal flora to produce SCFAs (acetic, propionic, and butyric acids), which control Th17/Treg balance in two ways: (1) Encourage Treg differentiation: propionic acid activates the GPR43-cAMP/PKA-CREB pathway, which promotes Treg expansion and secretion of IL-10/TGF-β; (2) Inhibit Th17 polarization, SCFAs inhibited Th17 cell differentiation, down-regulated IL-23 secretion from dendritic cells, and blocked IL-6/STAT3 and RORγt signaling. Butyric acid also inhibits histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity, Foxp3 expression, and epigenetic stability. In a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) paradigm, animal studies shown that fecal transplantation or SCFA supplementation dramatically decreased bone degradation and joint inflammatory scores. Its therapeutic translational potential was suggested by the negative correlation found between the Th17/Treg ratio and the amount of SCFAs in the gut of RA patients.

Conclusion: Through multi-target control of Th17/Treg balance, SCFAs show distinct benefits over conventional immunosuppression in the treatment of RA. Verification is still required for the pharmacokinetic constraints of SCFAs, variations in individual flora, and causative processes. To support the specific immune intervention in RA, it will be important in the future to integrate multi-omics technology to evaluate the trans-organ regulatory network of the "gut-joint axis" and to create nano-delivery methods or modified bacterial tactics to increase the targeting of SCFAs.

Keywords: Gut flora; Gut-joint axis; Immunity; Rheumatoid arthritis; Short-chain fatty acids; Th17/Treg.