Aberrant gut microbiome contributes to systemic autoimmune responses in MRL/lpr mice

This study examines the gut microbiome and host response in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus using unique female mouse models (C57BL/6, MRL+/+ and MRL/lpr) at 6 and 18 weeks with varying degrees of disease progression. Fecal microbiome diversity and composition, gut oxidative stress, barrier function and inflammation, as well as systemic autoimmunity were determined. Dynamic interaction among intestinal microbiota composition, immune cell responses and autoantibody production are highly linked to renal and hepatic inflammation, eventually leading to corresponding autoimmune disease, e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus and autoimmune hepatitis.本研究采用6周龄与18周龄、疾病进展程度各异的独特雌性小鼠模型（C57BL/6、MRL+/+及MRL/lpr），探究肠道菌群（gut microbiome）与宿主应答（host response）在系统性红斑狼疮（systemic lupus erythematosus）发病机制中的作用。研究测定了粪便菌群多样性与组成、肠道氧化应激（gut oxidative stress）、肠屏障功能（barrier function）与炎症（inflammation）状态，以及系统性自身免疫水平。肠道菌群组成、免疫细胞应答与自身抗体生成之间的动态互作，与肾脏及肝脏炎症密切相关，最终可诱发诸如系统性红斑狼疮与自身免疫性肝炎（autoimmune hepatitis）在内的相应自身免疫疾病。