Multiple Sclerosis and Microbiome

Abstract

The composition of microbiota and the gut-brain axis is increasingly considered a factor in the development of various pathological conditions. The etiology of multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the CNS, is complex and interactions within the gut-brain axis may be relevant in the development and the course of MS. In this article, we focus on the relationship between gut microbiota and the pathophysiology of MS. We review the contribution of germ-free mouse studies to our understanding of MS pathology and its implications for treatment strategies to modulate the microbiome in MS. This summary highlights the need for a better understanding of the role of the microbiota in patients’ responses to disease-modifying drugs in MS and disease activity overall.

Keywords

• multiple sclerosis
• microbiome
• gut-brain axis
• disease-modifying drugs