The Potential Role of Butyrate in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases
Carmela Coccia,
Francesco Bonomi,
Anna Lo Cricchio,
Edda Russo,
Silvia Peretti,
Giulia Bandini,
Gemma Lepri,
Francesca Bartoli,
Alberto Moggi-Pignone,
Serena Guiducci,
Francesco Del Galdo,
Daniel E. Furst,
Marco Matucci Cerinic,
Silvia Bellando-Randone
Affiliations
Carmela Coccia
Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Scleroderma Unit, AOU Careggi, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
Francesco Bonomi
Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Scleroderma Unit, AOU Careggi, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
Anna Lo Cricchio
Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine AOUC, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Edda Russo
Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
Silvia Peretti
Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Scleroderma Unit, AOU Careggi, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
Giulia Bandini
Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine AOUC, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Gemma Lepri
Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Scleroderma Unit, AOU Careggi, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
Francesca Bartoli
Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Scleroderma Unit, AOU Careggi, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
Alberto Moggi-Pignone
Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine AOUC, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Serena Guiducci
Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Scleroderma Unit, AOU Careggi, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
Francesco Del Galdo
Raynaud’s and Scleroderma Programme, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS9 7JT, UK
Daniel E. Furst
Department of Rheumatology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Marco Matucci Cerinic
Unit of Immunology, Rheumatology, Allergy and Rare Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, 20132 Milan, Italy
Silvia Bellando-Randone
Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Scleroderma Unit, AOU Careggi, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
The gut microbiota is a complex ecosystem of microorganisms residing in the human gastrointestinal tract, playing a crucial role in various biological processes and overall health maintenance. Dysbiosis, an imbalance in the composition and function of the gut microbiota, is linked to systemic autoimmune diseases (SAD). Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), especially butyrate, produced by the gut microbiota through the fermentation of dietary fibers, play a significant role in immunomodulation and maintaining intestinal homeostasis. Butyrate is essential for colonocyte energy, anti-inflammatory responses, and maintaining intestinal barrier integrity. Studies show reduced butyrate-producing bacteria in SAD patients, suggesting that increasing butyrate levels could have therapeutic benefits. Butyrate’s anti-inflammatory effects and its potential therapeutic role have been studied in rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, and Behçet’s disease. Despite promising in vitro and animal model results, human studies are limited, and the optimal strategies for modulating dysbiosis in SADs remain elusive. This review explores the current evidence on the immunoregulatory role of butyrate and its potential therapeutic effects in SAD.
