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Microbiome in 2016

T follicular helper cells and the gut microbiome in arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with an expansion of certain gut commensals, although the underlying mechanism remains unknown. In 2016, studies using experimental models of arthritis have begun to unravel the links between the gut microbiota, T follicular helper cells and arthritis.

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Figure 1: Gut microbial diversity in an individual determines the differentiation of T cells into TH17 or TFH cells.

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Acknowledgements

V. T. is supported by grants from the US Department of Defense, NIH and the Mayo Clinic Center of Individualized Medicine.

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Correspondence to Veena Taneja.

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The author declares no competing financial interests.

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Taneja, V. T follicular helper cells and the gut microbiome in arthritis. Nat Rev Rheumatol 13, 72–74 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrrheum.2016.222

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