The Potential Role of Probiotics in the Management of Osteoarthritis Pain: Current Status and Future Prospects

Microbial Symphony: Exploring the Role of the Gut in Osteoarthritis-Related Pain. A Narrative Review

One of the most common musculoskeletal disorders, osteoarthritis (OA), causes worldwide disability, morbidity, and poor quality of life by degenerating articular cartilage, modifying subchondral bone, and inflaming synovial membranes. OA pathogenesis pathways must be understood to generate new preventative and disease-modifying therapies. In recent years, it has been acknowledged that gut microbiota (GM) can significantly contribute to the development of OA. Dysbiosis of GM can disrupt the "symphony" between the host and the GM, leading to a host immunological response that activates the "gut-joint" axis, ultimately worsening OA. This narrative review summarizes research supporting the "gut-joint axis" hypothesis, focusing on the interactions between GM and the immune system in its two main components, innate and adaptive immunity. Furthermore, the pathophysiological sequence of events that link GM imbalance to OA and OA-related pain is broken down and further investigated. We also suggest that diet and prebiotics, probiotics, nutraceuticals, exercise, and fecal microbiota transplantation could improve OA management and represent a new potential therapeutic tool in the light of the scarce panorama of disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs (DMOADs). Future research is needed to elucidate these complex interactions, prioritizing how a particular change in GM, i.e., a rise or a drop of a specific bacterial strain, correlates with a certain OA subset to pinpoint the associated signaling pathway that leads to OA.

Role of soluble epoxide hydrolase in pain and depression comorbidity

The coexistence of chronic pain and depression in clinical practice places a substantial social burden and profoundly impacts in patients. Although a clear correlation exists, the underlying mechanism of comorbidity between chronic pain and depression remains elusive. Research conducted in recent decades has uncovered that soluble epoxide hydrolase, a pivotal enzyme in the metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids, plays a crucial role in inflammation. Interestingly, this enzyme is intricately linked to the development of both pain and depression. With this understanding, this review aims to summarize the roles of soluble epoxide hydrolase in pain, depression, and their comorbidity. Simultaneously, we will also explore the underlying mechanisms, providing guidance for future research and drug development.

Exploratory analysis on the relationship between dietary live microbe intake and arthritis: a national population based cross-sectional study

Objective

The pathogenesis of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) remains unclear. This study aims to investigate whether the intake of live dietary microbes can be used as an auxiliary means for the treatment of arthritis.

Methods

Data used in the present research were originated from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2003-2018. Participants involved in the present study were categorized into three groups based on the dietary live microbe classification system, namely low, medium, and high dietary live microbe groups. The analyses utilized weighted univariate and multivariate logistic regression. The restricted cubic spline plot was used to explore the relationship between the high dietary live microbe group and the odds of arthritis.

Results

12,844 participants were included in the present study. The intake of high live dietary microbes in RA group was lower than that in healthy control group and OA group. The proportion of RA patients in the high live dietary microbe group was lower than that in the low and medium live dietary microbe group. Following the comprehensive adjustment for covariates, it was observed that participants in both the high and medium dietary live microbe groups exhibited lower odds of RA compared to those in the low dietary live microbe group (High OR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.53-0.96; Medium OR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.59-1.00, p = 0.02). A restricted cubic spline plot indicates a negative correlation between the quantity of dietary live microbes and the occurrence of RA within the high dietary live microbe group.

Conclusion

The results of our study revealed a significant difference in dietary live microbe intake between healthy and RA patients. Higher dietary intake was correlated with a decreased odds of RA. However, no significant association was found between the occurrence of OA and the quantity of dietary live microbes.