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Updated: Dec 23, 2025
Analysis of Fecal Microbiota Dynamics in Lupus-Prone Mice Using a Simple, Cost-Effective DNA Isolation Method
Published on: May 2, 2022
Early and Short-Term Interventions in the Gut Microbiota Affects Lupus Severity, Progression, and Treatment in
Yun Zhang1, Qiuping Liu1, Yiran Yu1
1Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, College of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
Abstract:
There have been attempts to reveal the possible associations between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and gut microbiota. Using MRL/lpr mice, this study was performed to reveal whether early and short-term interventions in gut microbiota affect lupus. MRL/lpr mice were treated with antibiotics or fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) before onset. Then, prednisone was used to treat the lupus mice with initially different gut microbiota compositions. The compositions of gut microbiota were assessed by the V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA gene sequence. Early and short-term antibiotics exposure aggravated lupus severity by depleting beneficial gut microbiota for lupus, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, and enriching harmful gut microbiota for lupus, such as Klebsiella and Proteus. FMT alleviated lupus severity by renovating the antibiotic-induced dysbiosis of gut microbiota in the following 1 week after antibiotics exposure. Besides, short-term antibiotics exposure before onset imposed no significant effects on lupus progression, but the following one week of FMT suppressed lupus progression. Moreover, the short-term antibiotics or FMT before onset inhibited the therapeutic efficiency of prednisone on lupus from 9 to 13 weeks old of MRL/lpr mice. These data demonstrate that the gut microbiota before onset is important for lupus severity, progression and treatment.
Insights
Early gut microbiota interventions impact systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) severity and treatment. Interventions like antibiotics or fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) before disease onset significantly alter lupus progression and prednisone efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with potential links to gut microbiota dysbiosis.
- Understanding the role of gut microbiota in SLE pathogenesis and treatment is crucial for developing novel therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of early and short-term gut microbiota interventions on lupus severity and treatment response in MRL/lpr mice.
- To determine if modulating gut microbiota before disease onset influences lupus progression and the efficacy of prednisone therapy.
Main Methods:
- MRL/lpr mice were treated with antibiotics or fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) prior to disease onset.
- Gut microbiota composition was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing (V3-V4 region).
- Prednisone was administered to assess therapeutic efficiency in mice with altered gut microbiota.
Main Results:
- Early antibiotic exposure aggravated lupus by depleting beneficial bacteria (e.g., Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium) and enriching harmful bacteria (e.g., Klebsiella, Proteus).
- FMT alleviated antibiotic-induced gut dysbiosis and suppressed lupus progression.
- Short-term interventions before onset impaired prednisone's therapeutic effect on lupus.
Conclusions:
- Gut microbiota composition before disease onset is critical for SLE severity, progression, and treatment outcomes.
- Early modulation of gut microbiota can significantly influence the course of lupus and response to therapy.
- Targeting the gut microbiota represents a potential therapeutic avenue for managing SLE.
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