Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis and Its Role in Pediatric Autoimmune Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors:¹ Dr. Narges Hashemi, ² Dr. Shahnaz Armin, ³ Dr. Mohammad Sadegh Rezai, ⁴ Dr. Vahid Ziaee
Keywords:
Keywords: Gut microbiota, Dysbiosis, Pediatric autoimmune disorders, Next-generation sequencing, Microbial diversity, Biomarkers, Inflammatory responseAbstract
Authors:
¹ Dr. Narges Hashemi, ² Dr. Shahnaz Armin, ³ Dr. Mohammad Sadegh Rezai, ⁴ Dr. Vahid Ziaee
- https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1767-7873
- Dr. Shahnaz Armin: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4993-482X
- Dr. Mohammad Rezai: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4585-9954
- Dr. Vahid Ziaee: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4648-3573
Abstract:
In this cross-sectional investigation, we examined the association between gut microbiota dysbiosis and pediatric autoimmune disorders. A total of 600 children were enrolled, including 300 diagnosed with autoimmune conditions (e.g., type 1 diabetes and juvenile idiopathic arthritis) and 300 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Stool samples were analyzed using next-generation sequencing to determine microbial composition and diversity. Children with autoimmune disorders exhibited a dysbiosis index of 2.2 ± 0.4 compared to 1.5 ± 0.3 in controls (p < 0.001). Notably, beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium were reduced by 40%, while pro-inflammatory bacterial species increased by 45% in the autoimmune group relative to controls. Logistic regression analysis revealed that a dysbiosis index greater than 2.0 was associated with a 2.8-fold increase in the odds of having an autoimmune disorder (95% CI: 1.9–4.1, p < 0.001). These data support the hypothesis that alterations in gut microbiota composition contribute significantly to the pathogenesis of pediatric autoimmune diseases and may offer novel targets for therapeutic intervention.
