Pharmacomicrobiomics in inflammatory arthritis: gut microbiome as modulator of therapeutic response

Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2020 May;16(5):282-292. doi: 10.1038/s41584-020-0395-3. Epub 2020 Mar 10.

Abstract

In the past three decades, extraordinary advances have been made in the understanding of the pathogenesis of, and treatment options for, inflammatory arthritides, including rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis. The use of methotrexate and subsequently biologic therapies (such as TNF inhibitors, among others) and oral small molecules have substantially improved clinical outcomes for many patients with inflammatory arthritis; for others, however, these agents do not substantially improve their symptoms. The emerging field of pharmacomicrobiomics, which investigates the effect of variations within the human gut microbiome on drugs, has already provided important insights into these therapeutics. Pharmacomicrobiomic studies have demonstrated that human gut microorganisms and their enzymatic products can affect the bioavailability, clinical efficacy and toxicity of a wide array of drugs through direct and indirect mechanisms. This discipline promises to facilitate the advent of microbiome-based precision medicine approaches in inflammatory arthritis, including strategies for predicting response to treatment and for modulating the microbiome to improve response to therapy or reduce drug toxicity.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antirheumatic Agents / metabolism
  • Antirheumatic Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Antirheumatic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / microbiology*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / pathology
  • Autoimmunity / drug effects
  • Biological Availability
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome / drug effects*
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome / genetics
  • Humans
  • Methotrexate / metabolism
  • Methotrexate / pharmacokinetics
  • Methotrexate / therapeutic use
  • Mice
  • Precision Medicine / methods*
  • Spondylarthritis / drug therapy
  • Spondylarthritis / microbiology*
  • Spondylarthritis / pathology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors / pharmacokinetics
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors
  • Methotrexate