The GI Microbiome and Autoimmunity

Autoimmune disease is growing at epidemic proportions. Standard interventions are based on symptom control and immune suppression. This presentation with review a proactive integrative, systems biology, approach for the provider to address disease prediction, prevention and treatment, including various evidence-based modalities. The role of the GI microbiota will be emphasized, along with food immune reactions, stealth infections and molecular mimicry in autoimmune disease pathogenesis will be explored along with how these may serve as leverage points for clinical interventions. The hygiene hypothesis and changes in early environmental antigen exposure will also be explored. New opportunities for proactive screening for at-risk subjects for autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and others using qPCR molecular methods of assessing the GI microbiota, as well as emerging predictive antibody testing, will also be reviewed and discussed from the perspective of the natural and integrative practitioner.