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Changes in the Population of Gut Bacteria can Trigger Rheumatoid Arthritis

by Savitha C Muppala on Jun 14 2012 11:57 PM

 Changes in the Population of Gut Bacteria can Trigger Rheumatoid Arthritis
Researchers found that billions of bugs in our gut actually help in regulating the immune system as well as associated autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Abnormal populations of specific gut bacteria can cause development of diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.

A lot of people suspected that gut flora played a role in rheumatoid arthritis, but no one had been able to prove it because they couldn't say which came first — the bacteria or the genes," researchers said.

"This study is an important advance in our understanding of the immune system disturbances associated with rheumatoid arthritis. While we do not yet know what the causes of this disease are, this study provides important insights into the immune system and its relationship to bacteria of the gut, and how these factors may affect people with genetic susceptibilities to disease,"Eric Matteson, M.D., chairman of rheumatology at Mayo Clinic, said.

Source-Medindia


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