Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
7.7
4.8
Journals
Pharmaceuticals
Special Issues
The Regulatory Roles of the Gut Microbiota in Multisystem Diseases
share announcement

The Regulatory Roles of the Gut Microbiota in Multisystem Diseases

A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Pharmacology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 5069

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Mario Caldarelli

E-Mail
Guest Editor
1. Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
2. Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00168 Rome, Italy
Interests: autoinflammatory diseases; metabolic storage diseases; gut–brain axis
Dr. Rossella Cianci

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Interests: clinical and cellular immunology; microbiota and the immune system: crosstalk in health and diseases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biomedical science is currently witnessing a turning point—the so-called microbiota revolution. Accumulating evidence highlights the pivotal role of the microbiota in multisystem disease pathophysiology, leading to more awareness and ongoing research in this field. Clarifying this complex interaction can enhance our knowledge and potentially facilitate the development of increasingly precise, patient-targeted therapeutic strategies.

The focus in research has shifted from analyzing bacterial populations to studying broader aspects of microbial elements. Of these, bacteriophages, particularly engineered ones, are proving significant, being promoted as preventive and therapeutic agents.

This Special Issue aims to garner high-quality contributions that examine the importance of the microbiota in common and less common diseases, with particular emphasis on internal medicine. The improved survival rates of patients with inherited metabolic diseases, such as Fabry disease and phenylketonuria, pose new clinical challenges that require innovative pathophysiological insights and new treatment approaches.

We welcome original research articles, reviews, and case-based discussions of the diagnostic, therapeutic, and translational importance of the microbiota. They can be presented as mechanistic observations, clinical applications, and novel conceptual treatment strategies—varying from probiotics and postbiotics to bacteriophage and microbiota-guided treatments.

The Special Issue seeks to address the challenges and emerging opportunities in this novel and rapidly expanding field.

Dr. Mario Caldarelli
Dr. Rossella Cianci
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pharmaceuticals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • microbiota
  • multisystem diseases
  • bacteriophage therapy
  • metabolic disorders
  • precision medicine

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review, Other

22 pages, 5833 KB  
Article
The Impact of Seasonal and Meteorological Factors on Microorganisms Present in Knee Joint Effusions Among Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
by Hong Xiong, Shiyu Ji, Qian Ding, Yong Zhou, Xueming Yao and Yizhun Zhu
Pharmaceuticals 2026, 19(3), 347; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph19030347 - 24 Feb 2026
Viewed by 686
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by persistent synovial inflammation and vascular abnormalities. Emerging evidence suggests that dysbiosis of the microbiome contributes to the pathogenesis of this disease, while seasonal and meteorological variations represent significant factors influencing microbial community [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by persistent synovial inflammation and vascular abnormalities. Emerging evidence suggests that dysbiosis of the microbiome contributes to the pathogenesis of this disease, while seasonal and meteorological variations represent significant factors influencing microbial community dynamics. However, the specific pathological mechanisms mediated by microbial populations within knee joint effusions of RA patients remain poorly elucidated. The present study employs 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing technology to characterize seasonal variation patterns affecting microbial communities in knee joint effusions of RA patients and to investigate the relationship between microbial community structures and climatic lag effects. Methods: Microbial communities in knee joint effusion samples obtained from RA patients were analyzed using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing methodologies. A Distributed Lag Non-linear Model (DLNM) was applied to quantify the delayed effects of climatic variables on microbial community composition. The correlation patterns between meteorological parameters and community structure were elucidated through the integration of ridge regression and redundancy analysis (RDA). Preliminary identification of potential biomarkers was conducted using random forest algorithms. Results: According to research findings, the microbial composition of knee joint effusions in RA patients shows seasonal fluctuation patterns that are compatible with those seen in RA patients, even though there is no discernible seasonal change in β-diversity. Compared with samples obtained during other seasons, spring specimens exhibited significantly elevated relative abundances of both beneficial microorganisms and opportunistic pathogenic taxa. Random forest modeling identified Escherichia-Shigella and Curtobacterium as preliminary candidate biomarkers; however, external validation is required to establish their specificity as disease indicators. Further analysis revealed that although short-term meteorological fluctuations exert minimal influence on overall microbial diversity, specific alterations in mean wind speed (MWS) and relative humidity (RH) drive compositional changes in the microbial community, manifested as rapid responses from dominant bacterial taxa and compensatory buffering effects from rare taxa. Conclusions: This study suggests that the synovial cavity microbiota in RA patients may exhibit seasonal variation patterns that are statistically associated with environmental parameters, particularly humidity and temperature. Due to the inherent limitations of the cross-sectional study design, the preliminary candidate biomarkers identified herein require validation through external cohorts. Additional investigations incorporating healthy controls and osteoarthritis (OA) cohorts are necessary to confirm specificity and to elucidate the therapeutic potential of these microbial targets for RA microbiome interventions. Currently, insufficient evidence exists to establish causal relationships among microbial populations, joint pathology, and climatic factors. Longitudinal cohort studies are imperative to validate the temporal dynamics and clinical significance of these associations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Regulatory Roles of the Gut Microbiota in Multisystem Diseases)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research, Other

24 pages, 1512 KB  
Review
Puberty Starts in the Gut: Intestinal Clues to Early Puberty-Rethinking Biomarkers in Pediatric Endocrinology
by Otilia Elena Frăsinariu, Teodora Cristina Vintilă, Ioana Vasiliu, Violeta Ștreangă, Aniela Rugină, Oana Raluca Temneanu, Ionuț Daniel Iancu, Andreea Iațentiuc, Elena Jechel and Alexandru Florescu
Pharmaceuticals 2026, 19(1), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph19010049 - 25 Dec 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2186
Abstract
Central precocious puberty (CPP) may be influenced by gut microbiota through changes in short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), β-glucuronidase activity, and enterohepatic estrogen recycling. This narrative review integrates current evidence from human and animal studies exploring microbial contributions to pubertal timing. Across multiple cohorts, [...] Read more.
Central precocious puberty (CPP) may be influenced by gut microbiota through changes in short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), β-glucuronidase activity, and enterohepatic estrogen recycling. This narrative review integrates current evidence from human and animal studies exploring microbial contributions to pubertal timing. Across multiple cohorts, CPP is associated with loss of SCFA-producing commensals, such as Bacteroides, and increased abundance of taxa like Alistipes, Ruminococcus, and Lachnoclostridium. These microbial shifts are linked to altered SCFA profiles, diminished anti-inflammatory and neuroendocrine modulation, and enhanced reabsorption of estrogens via microbial β-glucuronidase activity. Experimental models support a causal connection: gut dysbiosis accelerates pubertal onset, whereas microbiota-targeted interventions can restore hormonal balance and delay activation of the HPG axis. While some overlap with obesity-associated microbiota exists, the endocrine-specific microbial changes observed in CPP suggest partially distinct mechanisms. Overall, the gut microbiota emerges as both a modulator and potential biomarker of early pubertal onset. Its integration into pediatric endocrine frameworks could improve early risk assessment and guide future interventions, though further validation through standardized, longitudinal, and diverse population studies is still required. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Regulatory Roles of the Gut Microbiota in Multisystem Diseases)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Other

Jump to: Research, Review

12 pages, 2177 KB  
Case Report
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Refractory Immune-Mediated Colitis: Case Series and Review of the Literature
by Marin Golčić, Laura Radoš, Iva Skočilić, Ivona Badovinac, Goran Hauser, Irena Krznarić Zrnić, Marina Šantić, Dora Fučkar Čupić, Sara Francetić, Karla Lisica, Lea Juras, Marija Škrtić, Ana Bešvir Džubur, Robert Šeparović, Vedran Tomašić, Ana Tečić Vuger and Ivana Mikolašević
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(11), 1719; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18111719 - 12 Nov 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1623
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) represent a significant breakthrough in cancer management, but they can cause adverse effects such as immune-mediated colitis (IMC). The standard first-line treatment is corticosteroids, and second-line treatment is infliximab or vedolizumab. However, a proportion of immune-mediated colitis (IMC) [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) represent a significant breakthrough in cancer management, but they can cause adverse effects such as immune-mediated colitis (IMC). The standard first-line treatment is corticosteroids, and second-line treatment is infliximab or vedolizumab. However, a proportion of immune-mediated colitis (IMC) cases are refractory to immunosuppressive treatment, which has led to the exploration of novel approaches such as fecal microbiota transplantation. Methods: We present two patients who both developed grade III IMC following application of durvalumab and pembrolizumab, respectively. Both patients were refractory to corticosteroid therapy, while the first one also showed no improvement to infliximab. We performed two separate applications of FMT on both patients, from different donors, as a rescue treatment. Results: After unsuccessful immunosuppressive treatment and following rescue FMT, both patients demonstrated a rapid and sustained improvement in inflammatory markers, clinical symptoms, quality-of-life scores, and colonoscopy findings, without additional immunosuppressive treatment. Conclusions: FMT appears to be safe and a potentially effective treatment option for patients with refractory IMC both as second- and third-line therapy options. Continued efforts toward rigorous donor screening, use of standardized biobanks, and standardizing FMT protocols will further enhance safety and reproducibility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Regulatory Roles of the Gut Microbiota in Multisystem Diseases)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop