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Metagenomic Analysis of the Pediatric-Onset Multiple Sclerosis Gut Microbiome

Ali I Mirza1, Feng Zhu1, Natalie Knox1

  • 1From the Department of Medicine (Neurology) (A.I.M., F.Z., Y.Z., H.T.), The University of British Columbia, Vancouver; National Microbiology Laboratory (N.K., G.V.D., M.G.), Public Health Agency of Canada; Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (N.K., G.V.D., M.G.), Department of Internal Medicine, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences (C.N.B., R.A.M.), and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinical and Research Centre (C.N.B.), University of Manitoba, Winnipeg; Roy Romanow Provincial Laboratory (J.D.F.), Regina; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (J.D.F.), College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Department of Neurology (J.H., E.W.), University of California San Francisco; Department of Pediatrics (Neurology) (E.A.Y., J.O.), The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery (D.L.A.), Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Centre for Neuroinflammation and Experimental Therapeutics and Department of Neurology (A.B.-O.), University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia; Faculty of Health Sciences (W.H.), Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada; and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (B.B.), PA.

Neurology
|December 23, 2021
PubMed

Insights

The gut microbiome in pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) shows differences in function and bacteria compared to healthy children. Disease-modifying drug (DMD) use impacts the gut microbiome, suggesting a disturbed functional potential in pediatric MS.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Pediatric Neurology

Background:

  • The gut microbiome's role in pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (MS) is largely unknown.
  • Understanding these microbial differences is crucial for potential therapeutic targets.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the functional potential and taxonomy of the gut microbiome in children with MS.
  • To compare the gut microbiome of pediatric MS patients with healthy controls.

Main Methods:

  • Metagenomic analysis of stool samples from 20 pediatric MS patients and 20 matched controls.
  • Comparison of microbial taxonomy and functional pathways using statistical tests.
  • Assessment of differences based on disease status and disease-modifying drug (DMD) exposure.

Main Results:

  • Pediatric MS patients showed higher methanogenesis prevalence and increased *Methanobrevibacter* abundance compared to controls.
  • A depletion in homolactic fermentation pathways was observed in individuals with MS.
  • DMD exposure was linked to enrichment of butyrate-producing enzymes.

Conclusions:

  • The gut microbiome's functional potential and taxonomy are altered in pediatric-onset MS.
  • Specific microbial pathways and taxa differ between MS patients and controls.
  • DMD treatment influences the gut microbiome composition in pediatric MS.
Abstract

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