A Distinct Plasma Microbiome But Not Gut Microbiome in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Compared to Healthy Individuals.

Compared to the gut, the plasma microbiome contained distinct community and greater heterogeneity, indicating that the predominant circulating microbiome may originate from sites (eg, oral or skin) other than the gastrointestinal tract. The decreased plasma but not gut alpha diversity in patients with SLE compared to HCs implies an altered plasma microbiome in SLE, which may be important for systemic immune perturbations and SLE disease pathogenesis.