# The Gut Microbiome and HLA B27-associated Acute Anterior Uveitis

> **NIH NIH R01** · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $408,186

## Abstract

Project Summary
Uveitis is one of the leading causes of acquired blindness. Uveitis can be subdivided based on the anatomic
portion of the uvea that is affected; 85% of uveitis is predominantly anterior. Since HLA B27 is associated with
50% of the patients who develop acute anterior uveitis, HLA B27 related acute anterior uveitis is easily the
most common phenotype of uveitis. Despite HLA B7’s remarkable role in contributing to the pathogenesis of
uveitis, the mechanism that explains this effect is unknown. Using a rat model, we have recently reported that
HLA B27 shapes the microbiome, the microbial cells that co-habit the human body. Furthermore, we note that
specific gut bacteria including Candidatus arthromatus are coated with IgA in the rat model. In addition,
bacteria in the rat model are translocated from the gut to the joint. Importantly we have extrapolated these
observations to patients by showing that HLA B27 shapes the microbiome in people and that IgA coated
bacteria are more prevalent in B27+ subjects relative to controls. We hypothesize that the microbiome is
causally related to B27-related acute anterior uveitis. We further hypothesize that intestinal bacteria are
translocated to sites of inflammation such as the uvea. We propose 3 aims to test these hypotheses. These
studies represent an innovative approach to understand the pathogenesis of HLA B27-related disease, a goal
which has been elusive for 43 years despite the strength of the association.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9987648
- **Project number:** 5R01EY029266-03
- **Recipient organization:** OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Mark Asquith
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $408,186
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-01 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9987648

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9987648, The Gut Microbiome and HLA B27-associated Acute Anterior Uveitis (5R01EY029266-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9987648. Licensed CC0.

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