The correlation between intestinal dysbiosis and the development of ankylosing spondylitis

The pathogenesis and development of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is concealed and complicated. In recent years, alterations in gut microbiota of AS patients have been largely investigated, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This article reviews the recent studies on changes of gut microbiota in AS patients, and discusses the possible correlation between intestinal dysbiosis and AS development from aspects including genetic factor HLA-B27, mucosal immune responses and the depression accompanying AS.