Heading Toward a Different Future: The Microbiome, Dysbiosis, Microbial Translocation, and Beyond

➢ The relationship between the gastrointestinal tract and joint diseases has garnered increased attention over recent decades, leading to the introduction of the gut-joint axis concept. ➢ Infections at sites such as joints and the spine may originate endogenously from the gut microbiome. ➢ The idea of microbial translocation through a compromised epithelial barrier, resulting in the circulation of pathogens or their byproducts, and the idea of immune cell-mediated transport of pathogens to various sites are gaining further attention. ➢ By understanding the interaction between the immune system and gut microbiota, potential therapeutic strategies, such as the use of organoids, can be developed to restore the gut barrier integrity, to replenish gut microbiota, and to provide biodiversity. ➢ To better understand the mechanisms linking gut health and joint diseases, future basic-science research and well-designed clinical trials, exploiting advanced next-generation sequencing techniques, are needed.