Alterations of the human gut microbiome in multiple sclerosis

The gut microbiome plays an important role in immune function and has been implicated in several autoimmune disorders. Here we use 16S rRNA sequencing to investigate the gut microbiome in subjects with multiple sclerosis (MS, n=60) and healthy controls (n=43). Microbiome alterations in MS include increases in Methanobrevibacter and Akkermansia and decreases in Butyricimonas, and correlate with variations in the expression of genes involved in dendritic cell maturation, interferon signalling and NF-kB signalling pathways in circulating T cells and monocytes. Patients on disease-modifying treatment show increased abundances of Prevotella and Sutterella, and decreased Sarcina, compared with untreated patients. MS…

• NM
  National Multiple Sclerosis Society
• BA
  Brigham and Women's Hospital

  Award: NS087226
• MS
  Multiple Sclerosis Society
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: NS087226, P30-DK034854
• HD
  Harvard Digestive Diseases Center, Harvard University

  Award: DK034854