A recent study from the University of Colorado suggests that a unique type of gut bacteria may play a key role in triggering rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in people who are already at risk for the disease. This discovery could lead to new ways to prevent or treat the condition before it fully develops.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes the body’s immune system to mistakenly attack the joints, leading to pain, swelling, and long-term damage. While scientists have long suspected that gut bacteria might be involved, this study provides strong evidence linking a specific bacterium to the disease.
The research team started by collecting antibodies from the blood of people who had markers indicating they were at risk for RA. These antibodies are proteins produced by immune cells to fight infections, but in autoimmune diseases, they can mistakenly attack the body’s own tissues.
To identify the bacteria involved, the researchers mixed these antibodies with fecal samples from at-risk individuals. They found that certain gut bacteria were specifically “tagged” by the antibodies, suggesting that the immune system was already reacting to these microbes.
To confirm their findings, the team introduced these bacteria into animal models. The results were striking—these bacteria not only caused the animals to develop the same blood markers found in humans at risk for RA, but in some cases, the animals developed full-blown rheumatoid arthritis.
Further analysis showed that in people with RA, T cells (a type of immune cell) react to these bacteria, while healthy individuals show no response. This suggests that the bacteria are triggering an immune reaction that contributes to the disease.
If this gut bacterium is driving the immune response that leads to RA, then scientists might be able to develop medications to target and eliminate the bacteria before the disease progresses. This could offer a new way to prevent or delay RA in people who are genetically or biologically at risk.
The study took five years to complete, with the help of volunteers who had early signs of RA and wanted to contribute to the research. The next step is to investigate exactly how the bacteria trigger the immune response and explore ways to block or prevent this reaction from happening.
This research, led by Kristine Kuhn, was published in Science Translational Medicine and could open new possibilities for preventing or treating rheumatoid arthritis at an early stage.
If you care about pain, please read studies about vitamin K deficiency linked to hip fractures in old people, and these vitamins could help reduce bone fracture risk.
For more health information, please see recent studies that Krill oil could improve muscle health in older people, and eating yogurt linked to lower frailty in older people.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
