J Pediatr Infect Dis 2017; 12(02): 131-135
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1601340
Rapid Communication
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Disturbance of Microbial Core Species in New-Onset Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Petra Hissink Muller
1   Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
,
Tim G.J. de Meij
2   Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
,
Michiel Westedt
1   Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
,
Evelien F.J. de Groot
2   Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
,
Cornelia F. Allaart
3   Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
,
Danielle M.C. Brinkman
1   Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
,
Dieneke Schonenberg-Meinema
4   Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Emma Children's Hospital/Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
,
Merlijn van den Berg
4   Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Emma Children's Hospital/Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
,
Lisette W.A. van Suijlekom-Smit
5   Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Sophia Children's Hospital Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
,
Marion van Rossum
6   Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Amsterdam Rheumatology and immunology Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
,
Andries E. Budding
7   Department of Medical Microbiology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
,
Rebecca ten Cate
1   Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

29 November 2016

20 February 2017

Publication Date:
04 April 2017 (online)

Abstract

Over the past decades, the intestinal microbiota has increasingly gained attention in studies addressing the pathophysiology of (pediatric) autoimmune diseases, including inflammatory joint diseases, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and type 1 diabetes. In this study, we have analyzed the composition of gut microbiota of newly diagnosed juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients, prior to initiation of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Fecal microbiota profiles of 8 JIA patients (median age: 11.1 years, 6 girls) were compared with 22 healthy age-matched controls using IS-pro, a 16S-23S interspacer (IS) region-based, eubacterial molecular detection technique. By partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), microbiota profiles of JIA and controls could significantly be discriminated based on a limited set of species belonging to the phylum Bacteroidetes ([Fig. 2]), but not within other phyla, with a sensitivity of 88%, specificity of 73% ([Fig. 3]), and area under the curve (AUC) 0.87 (95% CI: 0.73–0.87). These discriminative species have been considered to be part of the microbial core in healthy children.

Conclusion Our findings add to the increasing notion that the gut microbiota may be involved in the pathophysiology of JIA. Species involved in the discrimination between JIA and controls are members of the microbial core in the healthy state. Expanding knowledge on JIA-specific microbial signatures and host interactions may open avenues to explore options to develop individualized, microbiota-based preventive, and therapeutic interventions in JIA.