New species of bacteria may be the cause of rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis affects 1 in 100 people worldwide. We reasoned that though these antibodies were meant to attack the bacteria, rheumatoid arthritis develops when they spread beyond the intestines to attack the joints. We also found that these bacteria can activate specialised immune cells called T cells in people with rheumatoid arthritis. These findings suggest that these gut bacteria may be activating the immune systems of people with rheumatoid arthritis. Although Subdoligranulum didolesgii may be triggering an autoimmune response for some people with rheumatoid arthritis, antibiotics eliminate both helpful and harmful bacteria in the gut.