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

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Abstract

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.

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  1. Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N Wolfe St, Pathology 627, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA

    Dimitrios C. Ladakis & Pavan Bhargava

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  1. Dimitrios C. Ladakis
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Correspondence to Pavan Bhargava.

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This work was partly supported by a Harry Weaver Neuroscience Scholar Award from the National MS Society to Pavan Bhargava.

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DCL has no conflicts of interest to declare. PB is the principal investigator of a trial of TUDCA supplementation in progressive MS supported by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

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Ladakis, D.C., Bhargava, P. The Role of Gut Dysbiosis and Potential Approaches to Target the Gut Microbiota in Multiple Sclerosis. CNS Drugs 37, 117–132 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40263-023-00986-w

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