Gut-Microbiota, and Multiple Sclerosis: Background, Evidence, and Perspectives

Area of Science:

• Neuroimmunology
• Microbiome Research
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• The human gut microbiota plays a crucial role in maintaining health and is increasingly linked to chronic-degenerative diseases.
• Alterations in gut microbial composition and function are associated with chronic inflammatory mechanisms.
• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a CNS inflammatory demyelinating disease driven by autoimmune responses against myelin.

Purpose of the Study:

• To delineate key changes in the gut microbiota of MS patients.
• To explore the implications of these microbial shifts for health and disease.
• To identify factors influencing gut microbiota in MS and assess its role in immune system modulation.

Main Methods:

• Review of scientific literature on gut microbiota and MS.
• Analysis of microbial taxa modifications associated with MS.
• Assessment of gastrointestinal pain in MS patients via questionnaire.
• Evaluation of patient willingness to use probiotics for gut microbiota modulation.

Main Results:

• Gut microbiota alterations are observed in MS patients, potentially influencing immune responses in the gut and brain.
• Specific microbial taxa are modified in the disease state.
• Gastrointestinal symptoms are indirectly related to dysbiosis in MS.
• MS patients show interest in probiotic interventions.

Conclusions:

• Gut microbiota dysbiosis is implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of MS.
• Microbiota modulation, particularly through probiotics, presents a potential therapeutic avenue for MS.
• Further research is warranted to fully understand the gut-brain axis in MS and optimize microbial-based therapies.