The Microbiome in Osteoarthritis: a Narrative Review of Recent Human and Animal Model Literature.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative literature review synthesizing observational human associations and animal models without systematic methodology
PubMed 35389162 · doi:10.1007/s11926-022-01066-6
What was done
This narrative review synthesized recent literature over the preceding 5 years on the associations between various microbiome niches (gut, oral, synovial fluid, and cartilage) and osteoarthritis (OA) in humans and animal models, as well as the effects of preclinical microbiome interventions.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical values, effect sizes, or participant counts. Qualitatively, human OA was reported to be associated with reduced gut alpha diversity, enriched bacterial clades such as *Streptococcus* (correlated with pain) and *Firmicutes*, distinct oral microbiome signatures differentiating OA from rheumatoid arthritis, and presence of microbial DNA signatures in knee and hip joint tissues. In animal models (primarily high-fat diet-induced obesity), oral fiber, *Lactobacillus* probiotics, and cecal microbiome transplantation were reported to improve OA histopathology or cartilage healing.
Why it matters
It highlights emerging evidence that systemic and local microbial dysbiosis correlates with OA, suggesting the microbiome as a potential future target for disease-modifying or pain-reducing interventions.
Limits
The paper is a narrative review with no reported systematic search or meta-analytic pooling. Human data described are strictly observational and correlational, and all therapeutic intervention findings are limited to animal models.
Cited by
- supports Research data indicates there is a microbial or pathogen-related component involved in osteoarthritis and joint inflammation.