Role of gut microbiome in ankylosing spondylitis: an analysis of studies in literature.

OBJECTIVE: Gut microbiome is considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). We conducted a comprehensive literature review in this area to facilitate future research.

METHODS: We searched all literature in the PubMed database from inception to July 2016. Relevant articles were chosen and analyzed by three independent investigators.

RESULTS: The composition of gut microbiome in patients with AS has been identified to be different from healthy populations; however, specific profiles of gut microbiome are not yet clearly known. Through the host-bacteria dynamic interactions in general, intestinal dysbiosis impairs the gut mucosal barrier and leads to the disorder of intestinal mucosal immunity, resulting in increased pro-inflammatory cytokines and subsequent chronic inflammatory phenotype of AS. Moreover, colonization with specific AS gut microbiome could induce effective animal models, which will aid studies of pathogenesis of AS.

CONCLUSION: This analysis underscores the role of gut microbiome in chronic inflammation of AS and its possible underlying mechanisms. Intestinal dysbiosis is undoubtedly involved in the disease progression of AS, and the discovery of a specific profile of gut microbiome in AS will help reveal new therapeutic targets and diagnosis markers.