LRA-funded researcher Gregg Silverman, MD, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, is the lead author on a new study published in the prestigious journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. The research team discovered how an overgrowth of a common bacteria, Ruminococcus gnavus, found in the intestines, helps drive dangerous flare‑ups in people with lupus nephritis, kidney inflammation caused by lupus. The team found that when this bacterium expands in the intestines, a complex molecule – called a lipoglycan – is released, driving disease progression and kidney injury.
“This study started from a conversation I had with twins with nearly identical genetic makeup – one who had progressed to lupus nephritis and one who did not have lupus at all,” commented Dr. Silverman. “We wanted to find out whether the transition from having a genetic predisposition to lupus to developing active disease could be due to the common bacteria, Ruminoccocus gnavus, that we all carry in our intestines. We discovered that up to one third of people with lupus that developed kidney damage had too much of this strain of bacteria.”
Dr. Silverman noted that he and his team have now developed a simple blood test to detect these bacteria hiding in the intestines. He explained, “In the next phase of studies, we will determine if early detection can speed diagnosis, and if a short course of an especially selective oral antibiotic can head off the disease.”
This important development is a continuation of a Lupus Research Alliance-funded project by Dr. Silverman, identifying the connection between Ruminococcus gnavus and lupus flares.
“It is encouraging to see the most recent advances from Dr. Silverman’s research on the gut microbiome in lupus and his development of a potential blood test for early intervention,” said Teodora Staeva, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at the Lupus Research Alliance. “Dr. Silverman has been a trailblazer in the lupus microbiome research field and continues to deliver key insights that advance our understanding of lupus and offer potentially new intervention approaches.”
To learn more about this study and its findings, see NYU’s press release.
Tags: gut health, NYU, gut microbiome, lupus nephritis, Dr. Gregg Silverman, Ruminococcus gnavus, gut bacteria