Decoding the association between microorganisms and autoimmunity: a multifaceted review of evidence on specific...

The occurrence and progression of autoimmune diseases (AIDs) result from the combined effects of genetic susceptibility, immune response defects, and environmental triggers. Among these, microorganisms, as key environmental factors, have been widely hypothesized to play a role in initiating AIDs, but the exact causal relationship remains to be demonstrated. This review aims to deeply explore the core role of specific microbial infections in triggering AIDs by integrating evidence from three dimensions: epidemiological investigations, clinical studies, and animal model research. We focused on analyzing nine AIDs, including Guillain-Barré syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, and rheumatoid arthritis, and confirmed that specific pathogens such as Campylobacter jejuni, Epstein-Barr virus, and Porphyromonas gingivalis can induce corresponding autoimmune pathological damage in susceptible individuals through mechanisms including molecular mimicry and bystander activation. Nevertheless, the field still faces important gaps that caused the chain from mechanism association to clinical application to break.This review integrates existing evidence and demonstrates that microbial infections are one of the important triggers for AIDS. It provides a new theoretical basis and direction for mechanistic research, risk early warning, and targeted intervention of related diseases.