The Role of Gut Dysbiosis and Potential Approaches to Target the Gut Microbiota in Multiple Sclerosis

It has now been established that a perturbation in gut microbiome composition exists in multiple sclerosis (MS) and its interplay with the immune system and brain could potentially contribute to the development of the disease and influence its course. The effects of the gut microbiota on the disease may be mediated by direct interactions between bacteria and immune cells or through interactions of products of bacterial metabolism with immune and CNS cells. In this review article we summarize the ways in which the gut microbiome of people with MS differs from controls and how bacterial metabolites can potentially play a role in MS pathogenesis, and examine approaches to alter the composition of the gut microbiota potentially alleviating gut dysbiosis and impacting the course of MS.

Automated summary

It has been found that the composition of gut microbiome is disturbed in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), and its interaction with the immune system and brain may contribute to the development of the disease. The effects of the gut microbiota on MS may be mediated by direct interactions between bacteria and immune cells or through interactions of products of bacterial metabolism with immune and CNS cells. This review article summarizes the differences in gut microbiome composition between people with MS and controls, and examines the potential role of bacterial metabolites in the pathogenesis of MS, as well as approaches to modify the composition of gut microbiota in order to alleviate gut dysbiosis and impact the course of MS.