Study Uncovers Gut Bacteria Differences in Children Who Later Develop Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

For the first time, scientists have shown that gut bacteria differences are associated with later development of juvenile idiopathic arthritis, a debilitating rheumatic childhood disease, and that these differences are present years before the disease is diagnosed.

The research team made this discovery by analyzing stool samples from one-year-old children in a long-term study called All Babies in Southeast Sweden. The scientists compared bacteria found in children who went on to develop juvenile idiopathic arthritis with those who did not.

“Our work suggests that an imbalance in microbes, especially the increased prevalence of several proinflammatory bacterial species, could serve as a potential indicator of future disease risk,” said Angelica Ahrens, co-first author of the study.

While other studies have shown microbial differences in children already diagnosed with JIA, this study is the first to demonstrate that these differences are present years before children first show symptoms of the disease.

The study found that children with gut bacteria known to cause inflammation were nearly seven times more likely to develop JIA. The researchers also found that bacteria known to promote a healthy gut lining were absent or reduced in children who later developed the disease. 

“Looking ahead, this line of discovery could lead to the development of screening tools in early pediatric wellness visits. By constructing risk profiles and implementing targeted interventions and preventative measures to reduce those risks, we may be able to prevent disease onset in some people,” Ahrens said.

First, though, researchers will need to understand how the bacteria identified in the study contribute to the disease.

“Functionally, what are these bacteria doing in the body that leads to this disease? That’s what we need to investigate next,” Ahrens said.

The current study only looked at a snapshot of the gut microbiome at one year of age, so future work may investigate how the gut microbiome of children with JIA progresses over time.

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Sources:

Erik Kindgren, Angelica P. Ahrens, Eric W. Triplett, Johnny Ludvigsson. Infant gut microbiota and environment associate with juvenile idiopathic arthritis many years prior to disease onset, especially in genetically vulnerable children. eBioMedicine, 2023; 93: 104654 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104654

University of Florida. “Study uncovers gut bacteria differences in children who later develop juvenile idiopathic arthritis.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 6 July 2023. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/07/230706124526.htm>.

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