Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026
11:22
Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing
Published on: October 15, 2019
Gut microbiota and gut-derived metabolites in defining multiple sclerosis phenotypic continuum
Federico Montini1,2, Ashutosh Mangalam3,4, Burcu Zeydan1,2
1Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States.
Frontiers in Immunology
|July 16, 2026
Summary
Gut microbes influence multiple sclerosis (MS) through their metabolites, impacting immune responses and neuroinflammation. Targeting these microbial metabolites offers a promising therapeutic strategy for MS, particularly within the gut-immune-brain axis.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Microbiome Research
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic CNS inflammatory disease influenced by environmental factors and gut microbiome alterations.
- Gut microbiome changes in MS are linked to immune dysregulation, barrier dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and demyelination.
- Microbial metabolites, not just microbes themselves, are increasingly recognized for their role in shaping immune responses and neuropathology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a mechanistic framework where microbial metabolites regulate mucosal and systemic immunity in MS.
- To shift MS gut microbiome research from associations to biological mechanisms.
- To evaluate therapeutic strategies targeting microbial metabolism for MS.
Main Methods:
- Review of human and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis studies.
- Integration of evidence on microbial metabolite functions in neuroimmune responses.
- Analysis of longitudinal studies on metabolite profiles and MS progression.
Main Results:
- Bacterially derived metabolites (e.g., SCFAs, bile acids, polyamines) influence T-cell differentiation, glial activation, and neuroimmune communication.
- Metabolite profiles are associated with MS disability worsening.
- Microbial metabolites are central regulators of immunity affecting MS biology.
Conclusions:
- Microbial metabolites are key players in the gut-immune-brain axis relevant to MS.
- Targeting microbial metabolism presents a promising therapeutic avenue for MS.
- Future research should focus on multi-omics and interventional studies for microbiome-informed MS therapies.
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