Dimethyl Fumarate and Intestine: From Main Suspect to Potential Ally against Gut Disorders

Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is a well-characterized molecule that exhibits immuno-modulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties and that is currently approved for the treatment of psoriasis and multiple sclerosis. Due to its Nrf2-dependent and independent mechanisms of action, DMF has a therapeutic potential much broader than expected. In this comprehensive review, we discuss the state-of-the-art and future perspectives regarding the potential repurposing of DMF in the context of chronic inflammatory diseases of the intestine, such as inflammatory bowel disorders (i.e., Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) and celiac disease. DMF's mechanisms of action, as well as an exhaustive analysis of the in vitro/in vivo evidence of its beneficial effects on the intestine and the gut microbiota, together with observational studies on multiple sclerosis patients, are here reported. Based on the collected evidence, we highlight the new potential applications of this molecule in the context of inflammatory and immune-mediated intestinal diseases.

Automated summary

Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is a well-studied molecule with immuno-modulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, currently approved for psoriasis and multiple sclerosis treatment. This review discusses the potential repurposing of DMF in chronic inflammatory diseases of the intestine, such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and celiac disease, based on its mechanisms of action and evidence of beneficial effects on the gut microbiota. The article highlights the new potential applications of DMF in inflammatory and immune-mediated intestinal diseases.