The importance of the microbiome in uveitis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review was to summarize the literature on preclinical and clinical studies demonstrating the impact of the intestinal microbiome in noninfectious uveitis. RECENT FINDINGS: Preclinical studies using the experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) model have shown commensals such as Desulfovibrio and Prevotella , as well as Ruminococcaceae , associated with uveitis, which overlap with some clinical studies in uveitis patients. Interventions that target the microbiome that can be developed for the treatment of uveitis include antibiotics, fecal metabolites or metabolite agonists that are protective in uveitis, probiotics, dietary interventions, or fecal microbial transplant. SUMMARY: There is significant data supporting the importance of the intestinal microbiome in noninfectious uveitis through enrichment or depletion of certain gut bacteria as well as their metabolites. Targeting the intestinal microbiome or their metabolites might be a viable option for the treatment of noninfectious uveitis.