Gut Bacterium Reverses Lupus Signs in Mice, Hinting at New Treatments

A UT Health San Antonio team found that supplementing the gut bacterium Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, depleted in lupus, reduced lupus biomarkers and protected organs in mouse lupus models. The bacterium improved fiber digestion, boosted anti-inflammatory cells, and normalized gut barriers, suggesting a potential probiotic approach for lupus. However, F. prausnitzii is oxygen-sensitive and not a lasting probiotic, so researchers will investigate how its metabolites interact with the immune system and how diet influences its levels before considering human applications. The study, published in Nature Communications, marks the first demonstration that restoring this bacterium can mitigate lupus-related dysfunction in animals.