Disordered cutaneous microbiota in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Dermatology
• Immunology

Background:

• The relationship between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and microbial colonization is increasingly recognized.
• Cutaneous microbiota plays a role in skin health and disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the cutaneous bacterial spectrum in SLE patients.
• To identify specific changes in microbial composition and abundance in SLE.
• To explore the correlation between skin microbiota and SLE clinical features.

Main Methods:

• Screening of cutaneous bacterial spectrums in 69 SLE patients, 49 healthy controls, and 20 dermatomyositis (DM) patients.
• Analysis of microbial diversity, richness, evenness, and heterogeneity.
• Statistical analyses including Kruskal-Wallis (KW) test, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and LDA Effect Size (LEfSe).
• Picrust analysis for pathway enrichment.

Main Results:

• SLE patients exhibited decreased microbial diversity and increased heterogeneity compared to healthy controls and DM patients.
• Skin microbial disorders in SLE correlated with low complement levels, gender, renal involvement, and myositis.
• Staphylococcus species, particularly Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, were identified as potential biomarkers for SLE skin lesions.
• Staphylococcus aureus infection pathway was significantly enriched in SLE patients.

Conclusions:

• Cutaneous microbial dysbiosis is associated with the pathogenesis of SLE.
• Alterations in skin microbiota may serve as reliable biomarkers for SLE.
• Targeting microbial dysbiosis presents a potential therapeutic strategy for SLE.