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Bacteria and human autoimmunity: the case of primary biliary cirrhosis
1Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology, University of California at Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA.
Purpose Of Review:
Primary biliary cirrhosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intrahepatic bile ducts that eventually leads to liver cirrhosis and organ failure, in which several observations suggest an autoimmune origin. Similarly to other autoimmune diseases, microbial mediated molecular mimicry is the most widely studied trigger that may break immunologic tolerance in primary biliary cirrhosis.
Recent Findings:
The hypothesis of a bacterial role in the cause of primary biliary cirrhosis has received recent attention, based on in vitro data and the identification of a unique xenobiotic-metabolizing bacterium that modulates naturally occurring environmental estrogens, namely, Novosphingobium aromaticivorans.
Summary:
The evidence indicates that bacteria, through different mechanisms, may precipitate autoimmunity in primary biliary cirrhosis and other autoimmune diseases. These data have several implications.
Insights
Bacteria may trigger autoimmune diseases like primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Research highlights Novosphingobium aromaticivorans
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Hepatology
Background:
- Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic autoimmune liver disease affecting intrahepatic bile ducts.
- Autoimmune diseases are suspected to be triggered by microbial factors, particularly through molecular mimicry.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the potential role of bacteria in initiating autoimmunity in primary biliary cirrhosis.
- To explore the hypothesis of a bacterial trigger for PBC and other autoimmune conditions.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on microbial involvement in autoimmune liver diseases.
- Analysis of in vitro data and identification of specific bacterial species implicated in PBC.
Main Results:
- Novosphingobium aromaticivorans, a bacterium metabolizing xenobiotics and environmental estrogens, has been identified.
- In vitro studies and bacterial identification support a potential role for bacteria in PBC pathogenesis.
Conclusions:
- Bacterial mechanisms, including molecular mimicry, may precipitate autoimmunity in primary biliary cirrhosis.
- These findings have significant implications for understanding and potentially treating autoimmune diseases.
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