Ricerc@Sapienza

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation and progressive damage of the joints. A number of genetic and environmental factors have been described as responsible for this disease, whose aetiology still remains not fully understood. Recent investigations have brought to light a role for oral and gut microbiota, capable of regulating immune system, in the pathogenesis of the RA. To better understand the gut-joint link it is important to consider that several environmental factors such as diet and smoking can influence both the microbiota diversity/composition and the arthritis onset/outcome. In particular, the Mediterranean diet is considered a healthy eating pattern, associated with reduced risk for psoriasis and cardiovascular diseases. Smoking can cause several immune dysregulation and represents a risk factor for arthritis onset; in addition smoking can also affect arthritis outcome, by interfering with therapeutic response to synthetic and biological drugs. Smoking influences both oral and gut microflora that can be partially reverted after smoking cessation. Aim of this study is to analyse the impact of a mediterranean diet regimen and smoking habit on the variety and composition of the gut microbiota in RA patients. Correlations between the gut microbiota composition and validated immunological and clinical parameters of disease activity will also be evaluated aiming at identify possible association with drug effectiveness. A better knowledge of the alterations occurring in the gut microbiota of RA patients may enable to set up supportive and individualized strategies.