Scientists have discovered that a specific type of bacteria found in the gut may play a key role in triggering rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in people who are already at risk for the disease.
The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Colorado and other institutions, suggests that this gut bacteria could be a hidden factor behind the immune system’s attack on the body’s own joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, which means the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues. It mainly affects the joints, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness. Doctors can often tell if someone is at risk for RA before symptoms appear by looking at certain blood markers. However, until now, scientists weren’t sure exactly what triggered the disease in those people.
To investigate, researchers took antibodies (special proteins made by the immune system) from people whose blood showed they were at risk for RA. They then mixed those antibodies with samples of bacteria found in the stool of the same individuals. By doing this, they were able to identify the specific bacteria that the immune system was reacting to.
To test their theory further, the researchers introduced this bacteria into laboratory animals. The results were striking: the bacteria caused the animals to develop the same blood markers seen in people at risk for RA. Even more concerning, some of the animals went on to develop full-blown rheumatoid arthritis.
This confirmed that the immune system in RA patients responds strongly to this particular bacteria, while healthy individuals do not show the same reaction. In other words, the bacteria appear to be a trigger that activates the immune response leading to RA in people who are already at risk.
If this bacteria is truly responsible for setting off the disease, scientists believe it may be possible to develop treatments that target the bacteria and stop RA from developing. This could be a major breakthrough in preventing or delaying the disease before it causes joint damage.
The research took five years to complete and was made possible thanks to volunteers who knew they were at risk for RA and agreed to participate in the study. The next step for the researchers is to figure out exactly how the bacteria trigger the immune response and explore possible ways to block or prevent this reaction.
The study was led by Kristine Kuhn and her team and was published in Science Translational Medicine.
If you care about arthritis, please read studies about extra virgin olive oil for arthritis, and pomegranate: A natural treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.
For more information about arthritis, please see recent studies about how to live pain-free with arthritis, and results showing medical cannabis may help reduce arthritis pain, back pain.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
