A probiotic modulates the microbiome and immunity in multiple sclerosis.

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Immunology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with gut dysbiosis.
• Modulating the gut microbiome may offer therapeutic benefits for MS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of a multi-species probiotic on the gut microbiome and peripheral immune function.
• To assess changes in healthy controls and MS patients.

Main Methods:

• Oral administration of a probiotic (Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus) for two months.
• Collection of stool and blood samples for 16S rRNA profiling, metabolomics, and immune cell profiling.
• Analysis of gut microbiota composition and peripheral immune cell populations.

Main Results:

• Probiotic use increased beneficial bacteria (Lactobacillus) and decreased MS-associated taxa (Akkermansia, Blautia).
• Reduced abundance of KEGG pathways related to methane metabolism was observed.
• Probiotic intake induced an anti-inflammatory peripheral immune response, decreasing inflammatory monocytes and altering dendritic cell markers.
• Decreased expression of MS risk alleles (HLA-DQA1, HLA-DPB1) was associated with probiotic-induced microbial changes in controls.

Conclusions:

• Probiotic supplementation beneficially alters the gut microbiome composition and function.
• Probiotics can induce peripheral anti-inflammatory immune responses.
• These findings suggest a potential synergistic role for probiotics in managing MS.