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A probiotic modulates the microbiome and immunity in multiple sclerosis
Author(s) -
Tankou Stephanie K.,
Regev Keren,
Healy Brian C.,
Tjon Emily,
Laghi Luca,
Cox Laura M.,
Kivisäkk Pia,
Pierre Isabelle V.,
Hrishikesh Lokhande,
Gandhi Roopali,
Cook Sandra,
Glanz Bonnie,
Stankiewicz James,
Weiner Howard L.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.25244
Subject(s) - probiotic , immune system , bifidobacterium , biology , bifidobacterium breve , immunology , dysbiosis , lachnospiraceae , microbiome , lactobacillus , akkermansia , gut flora , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , firmicutes , bioinformatics , genetics , 16s ribosomal rna
Objective Effect of a probiotic on the gut microbiome and peripheral immune function in healthy controls and relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Methods MS patients (N = 9) and controls (N = 13) were orally administered a probiotic containing Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium , and Streptococcus twice‐daily for two months. Blood and stool specimens were collected at baseline, after completion of the 2‐month treatment, and 3 months after discontinuation of therapy. Frozen peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were used for immune cell profiling. Stool samples were used for 16S rRNA profiling and metabolomics. Results Probiotic administration increased the abundance of several taxa known to be depleted in MS such as Lactobacillus . We found that probiotic use decreased the abundance of taxa previously associated with dysbiosis in MS, including Akkermansia and Blautia . Predictive metagenomic analysis revealed a decrease in the abundance of several KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathways associated with altered gut microbiota function in MS patients, such as methane metabolism, following probiotic supplementation. At the immune level, probiotic administration induced an anti‐inflammatory peripheral immune response characterized by decreased frequency of inflammatory monocytes, decreased mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CD80 on classical monocytes, as well as decreased human leukocyte antigen (HLA) D related MFI on dendritic cells. Probiotic administration was also associated with decreased expression of MS risk allele HLA‐DQA1 in controls. Probiotic‐induced increase in abundance of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium was associated with decreased expression of MS risk allele HLA.DPB1 in controls. Interpretation Our results suggest that probiotics could have a synergistic effect with current MS therapies. Ann Neurol 2018