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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
Therapeutic Evaluation of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in an Interleukin 10-Deficient Mouse Model
Published on: April 6, 2022
The Efficacy of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis: Transcriptome and Gut
Sanwang Wang1, Hongliang Chen2, Xin Wen3
1Department of Psychiatry, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, China.
Objective:
To study the protective effect of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and reveal its potential intestinal microflora-dependent mechanism through analyses of the intestinal microbiota and spinal cord transcriptome in mice.
Method:
We measured the severity of disease by clinical EAE scores and H&E staining. Gut microbiota alteration in the gut and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the spinal cord were analyzed through 16S rRNA and transcriptome sequencing. Finally, we analyzed associations between the relative abundance of intestinal microbiota constituents and DEGs.
Results:
We observed that clinical EAE scores were lower in the EAE+FMT group than in the EAE group. Meanwhile, mice in the EAE+FMT group also had a lower number of infiltrating cells. The results of 16S rRNA sequence analysis showed that FMT increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria and reduced the abundance of Bacteroides and Actinobacteria. Meanwhile, FMT could modulate gut microbiota balance, especially via increasing the relative abundance of g_Adlercreutzia, g_Sutterella, g_Prevotella_9, and g_Tyzzerella_3 and decreasing the relative abundance of g_Turicibacter. Next, we analyzed the transcriptome of mouse spinal cord tissue and found that 1476 genes were differentially expressed between the EAE and FMT groups. The analysis of these genes showed that FMT mainly participated in the inflammatory response. Correlation analysis between gut microbes and transcriptome revealed that the relative abundance of Adlercreutzia was correlated with the expression of inflammation-related genes negatively, including Casp6, IL1RL2 (IL-36R), IL-17RA, TNF, CCL3, CCR5, and CCL8, and correlated with the expression of neuroprotection-related genes positively, including Snap25, Edil3, Nrn1, Cpeb3, and Gpr37.
Conclusion:
Altogether, FMT may selectively regulate gene expression to improve inflammation and maintain the stability of the intestinal environment in a gut microbiota-dependent manner.
Insights
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) reduced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) severity in mice. FMT modulated gut microbiota and spinal cord gene expression, suggesting a microbiota-dependent protective mechanism against neuroinflammation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Microbiome Research
- Genomics
Background:
- Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a mouse model for multiple sclerosis.
- Gut microbiota dysbiosis is implicated in autoimmune diseases.
- Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a potential therapeutic strategy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the protective effects of FMT on EAE in mice.
- To elucidate the underlying gut microbiota-dependent mechanisms.
- To analyze changes in the spinal cord transcriptome.
Main Methods:
- EAE induction and FMT administration in mice.
- Clinical EAE scoring and histological analysis (H&E staining).
- 16S rRNA sequencing for gut microbiota profiling.
- Transcriptome sequencing of mouse spinal cord tissue.
- Correlation analysis between microbiota and gene expression.
Main Results:
- FMT significantly reduced EAE clinical scores and spinal cord inflammation.
- FMT altered gut microbiota composition, increasing Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, and decreasing Bacteroides and Actinobacteria.
- FMT modulated spinal cord gene expression, particularly inflammatory and neuroprotective pathways, with Adlercreutzia abundance correlating with these changes.
Conclusions:
- FMT demonstrates a protective effect against EAE in mice.
- The therapeutic benefits of FMT are mediated by gut microbiota-dependent regulation of gene expression.
- FMT may restore intestinal homeostasis and reduce neuroinflammation.
