ArticleAnnals of the rheumatic diseases2026
Short-chain fatty acids and their gut microbial pathways distinguish rheumatoid arthritis in discordant monozygotic twins.
Article in Annals of the rheumatic diseases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed.
- Gut microbiome taxonomic and predicted functional profiles in Tunisian individuals with hypercholesterolemia: a pilot study.World journal of microbiology & biotechnology · 2026Article
- Gut Microbial Functional Ecology and Microbiota-Derived Metabolites in Rheumatoid Arthritis Autoimmunity.Cells · 2026Review
- Maternal and infant gut microbiome.iMeta · 2026Review
- Gut-bone axis in rheumatoid arthritis: microbiota-driven barrier dysfunction, immune crosstalk, and therapeutic strategies.Antonie van Leeuwenhoek · 2026Review
- Article
- Gut microbiota and intestinal permeability in rheumatoid arthritis: pathogenic mechanisms.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Review
- Gut dysbiosis in difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis: hypothesized microbial endotypes, persistent inflammation, and pharmacological treatment resistance.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2026Review
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17 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesAlthough genetic risk factors, such as HLA-DRB1 alleles, contribute to the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the concordance rate in monozygotic (MZ) twins is low, suggesting that other factors are involved in disease development. Further, the relative contribution of nongenetic elements in identical twins has not been characterised. Here, we aimed to characterise host and microbial biomarkers of RA by studying MZ twins discordant for disease using a multiomics approach.
methodsEight pairs of MZ twins discordant for RA (N = 16) were enrolled in the United States (US). The gut microbiome was assessed using shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Autoantibodies, cytokines, and plasma proteins were measured in both plasma and faeces. Levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) from serum and faeces were quantified using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Metagenomic data from a UK twin registry (TwinsUK) (N = 14) were used to validate findings in the US population.
resultsAlthough microbiome diversity and composition did not differ between twins, we observed a significant decrease in the SCFA-producing bacteria Blautia faecis and significantly lower concentrations of faecal butyrate and propionate in affected RA twins in the US. TwinsUK showed a similar reduction in the SCFA-producers Gemmiger formicilis and Faecalicatena fissicatena, as well as bacterial SCFA metabolism pathways.
conclusionsMultiomics biomarkers differentiate MZ twins discordant for RA. Faecal butyrate and propionate, as well as SCFA-producing bacteria, were decreased in affected twins. We found a similar decrease in SCFA-producing taxa in affected twins in a geographically distinct cohort in the UK. Our results suggest that, if further validated in larger cohorts, multiomics approaches may improve our understanding of RA pathogenesis and, potentially, contribute to more accurate diagnostics and coadjuvant therapies.
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