ABSTRACT
The relationship between intestinal microbiome and host growth and development, immunity, metabo-lism and other aspects is very close. But the complex interaction between intestinal microbiota and host is still largely un?known. At present, germ?free animal models have become an important tool for exploring the interaction between intestinal microbiome and host. Many studies used germ?free animal models to explore the role of gut microbiome in host metabolism, the development of the immune system, including the role of gut microbiome in the pathogenesis and prognosis of autoim?mune diseases. It has been found that intestinal microbiome as one of the environmental factors may be involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, but its causal relationship is unknown. This paper will review the correlation between the intestinal microbiota and pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis by using germ?free animal models, and provide a theoreti?cal basis for further study of the role of intestinal microbiome in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.