Slipping through the Cracks: Linking Low Immune Function and Intestinal Bacterial Imbalance to the Etiology of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Figure 1

Triangle of three key elements closely linked to maintain host health: immune function is critical to maintaining the balance of these three elements. Once the host’s immune function is deteriorated by stress, aging, and other events such as GI disorders, the mucosal barrier system will be deteriorated along with an imbalance of intestinal bacteria, which eventually overcome the GI immune system. As a consequence, hosts with low immune function become more susceptible to these intestinal pathogens and fall into a downward spiral of chronic health problems.