Authors of this review link gut microbiota dysbiosis to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pathogenesis and highlights sex differences, barrier dysfunction (“leaky gut”), altered microbial metabolites (notably reduced short-chain fatty acids [SCFAs]), and immune skewing (eg, Th17/Treg imbalance) as key drivers. Probiotics—especially Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium—may restore barrier integrity (tight junctions, mucus), rebalance communities (including the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio), and modulate immunity with epigenetic effects. Nutritional adjuncts may synergize with probiotics.
Translational hurdles include heterogeneous efficacy, safety in immunosuppressed hosts, antibiotic resistance concerns, variable colonization, and potential microbiome disruption with long-term use. The paper urges optimized dosing, encapsulated delivery to improve bioavailability (for probiotics, 6-gingerol, vitamin D), and personalization via microbiota profiling with attention to sex-specific responses. Overall, the gut flora–immunity–metabolism axis is a promising target, with probiotic–nutritional co-therapies as adjuncts—pending standardized formulations, clearer selection criteria, and long-term safety data.
Reference: Habiballah DN, Li F, Jiang L. Immune metabolic restoration in systemic lupus erythematosus: the impact of gut microbiota, probiotics, and nutritional synergy. Front Immunol. 2025;16:1602235. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1602235.
Link: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1602235/full
