Feeding the gut microbiome: impact on multiple sclerosis

Matteo Bronzini; Alessandro Maglione; Rachele Rosso; Manuela Matta; Federica Masuzzo; Simona Rolla; Marinella Clerico

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1176016

Feeding the gut microbiome: impact on multiple sclerosis

Front Immunol. 2023 May 25:14:1176016. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1176016. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Matteo Bronzini¹, Alessandro Maglione¹, Rachele Rosso¹, Manuela Matta², Federica Masuzzo², Simona Rolla¹, Marinella Clerico^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano, Italy.
² San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Orbassano, Italy.

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a multifactorial neurological disease characterized by chronic inflammation and immune-driven demyelination of the central nervous system (CNS). The rising number of MS cases in the last decade could be partially attributed to environmental changes, among which the alteration of the gut microbiome driven by novel dietary habits is now of particular interest. The intent of this review is to describe how diet can impact the development and course of MS by feeding the gut microbiome. We discuss the role of nutrition and the gut microbiota in MS disease, describing preclinical studies on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and clinical studies on dietary interventions in MS, with particular attention to gut metabolites-immune system interactions. Possible tools that target the gut microbiome in MS, such as the use of probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics, are analyzed as well. Finally, we discuss the open questions and the prospects of these microbiome-targeted therapies for people with MS and for future research.

Keywords: diet; gut microbiota; immune system; multiple sclerosis; postbiotics; prebiotics; probiotics.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Central Nervous System
Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental*
Gastrointestinal Microbiome*
Humans
Microbiota*
Multiple Sclerosis* / therapy

Grants and funding

This publication is part of the project NODES, which has received funding from the MUR–M4C2 1.5 of PNRR (grant agreement no. ECS00000036) and supported by the University of Turin (grant CLEM_RILO_21_01 to MC).