“In this pilot study, we observed distinct differences in the oral and stool microbiome in the Sjögren’s syndrome group compared [with] controls, characterized by a decreased microbial richness in the mouth and significant differences in certain genera in both mucosal sites,” write the authors in their discussion. “Subjects with the most severe keratoconjunctivitis sicca and combined systemic and ocular disease were found to have the lowest diversity of stool microbiota. It remains to be determined if the observed changes in the mucosal microbiome result from the secretory glandular dysfunction, defective cholinergic signaling with altered gastrointestinal motility, or mucosal disease in Sjögren’s syndrome and/or if the mucosal dysbiosis is a stimulus for development or exacerbation of the autoimmune mucosal and glandular disease immunopathology at these sites.”
Lara C. Pullen, PhD, is a medical writer based in the Chicago area.
References
- Cintia S. de Paiva, Dan B. Jones, Michael E. Stern, et al. Altered mucosal microbiome diversity and disease severity in Sjögren’s syndrome. Sci Rep. 2016; 6:23561. Published online 2016 Apr 18. doi: 10.1038/srep23561.
