Interaction of the Gut Microbiome and Immunity in Multiple Sclerosis: Impact of Diet and Immune Therapy.

The bidirectional communication between the gut and central nervous system (CNS) through microbiota is known as the microbiota-gut-brain axis. The brain, through the enteric neural innervation and the vagus nerve, influences the gut physiological activities (motility, mucin, and peptide secretion), as well as the development of the mucosal immune system. Conversely, the gut can influence the CNS via intestinal microbiota, its metabolites, and gut-homing immune cells.

Fecal Lcn-2 level is a sensitive biological indicator for gut dysbiosis and intestinal inflammation in multiple sclerosis.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) has been reported to be associated with intestinal inflammation and gut dysbiosis. To elucidate the underlying biology of MS-linked gut inflammation, we investigated gut infiltration of immune cells during the development of spontaneous experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in humanized transgenic (Tg) mice expressing HLA-DR2a and human T cell receptor (TCR) specific for myelin basic protein peptide (MBP87-99)/HLA-DR2a complexes. Strikingly, we noted the simultaneous development of EAE and colitis, suggesting a link between autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) and intestinal inflammation.

Monthly triple-dose gadolinium administration: potential associations with leukopenia, hypophosphatemia, and bone marrow T1 hyperintensity.

Objective: Monthly scanning with triple-dose gadopentetate dimeglumine has been shown to be associated with progressive increases in bone T1 hyperintensity, hypophosphatemia, and leukopenia. This study was performed to retrospectively investigate the potential associations among these phenomena.

Methods: This retrospective analysis involved patients who had received monthly triple-dose gadopentetate dimeglumine for up to 2 years as part of treatment for multiple sclerosis.

Effect of switching glatiramer acetate formulation from 20 mg daily to 40 mg three times weekly on immune function in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Many RRMS patients who had been treated for over 20 years with GA 20 mg/ml daily (GA20) switched to 40 mg/ml three times-a-week (GA40) to reduce injection-related adverse events. Although GA40 is as effective as GA20 in reducing annualized relapse rate and MRI activity, it remains unknown how switching to GA40 from GA20 affects the development of pathogenic and regulatory immune cells.

Objective: To investigate the difference in immunological parameters in response to GA20 and GA40 treatments.