Review Article

Gut Microbiota in Multiple Sclerosis and Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis: Current Applications and Future Perspectives

Table 1

Microbes and inflammatory factors in EAE.

AuthorInterventionFunctionIF increaseIF decreaseMicrobial changes

Lee et al. [108]GF mice versus CC miceResistant to the development of EAE in GF miceCD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ TregsIFN-γ and IL-17A
Berer et al. [109]GF mice versus SPF RR miceReduce the percentage of EAE in GF miceCD4+ T cellsTH17 T-cell receptor (TCRablow)
Ochoa-Reparaz et al. [42]Antibiotic (ampicillin, neomycin sulfate, metronidazole, vancomycin), minocyclineProtects mice against EAE; reduced the severity of EAEIL-13, IL-10
FoxP3+ Treg cells
CD4+ or CD8+ T cell
IFN-γ, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, MCP-1, IL-17, and IL-6
Yokote et al. [110]Antibiotics (KCV)Suppressed the development of EAEIFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-17
Th17
iNKT cells
Reduction of Lactobacillus murinus and Bacteroides fragilis and increase in Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron
Ochoa-Reparaz et al. [114](1) Antibiotics
(2) Antibiotics + WT B. fragilis
(3) Antibiotics + △PSA B. fragilis
(4) Mice treated with PBS
(1) Antibiotics: reduce EAE severity; delays clinical onset.
(2) Antibiotics + WT B. fragilis: protect against disease; reduced clinical severity
(1) Antibiotics: IL-13, GATA-3
(2) WT B. fragilis: IL-10, IFN-γ, IL-12, GATA-3, SMAD-3
(3) △PSA B. fragilis: RORγt, IL-17, and T-bet
(1) Antibiotics: T-bet, IFN-γ, IL-17 and IL-6
(2) WT B. fragilis: RORgt, IL-17
(3) △PSA B. fragilis: GATA-3, IL-10, and IL-13
In WT or △PSA B. fragilis group: increase Bacteroides spp. counts
Ochoa-Reparaz et al. [157](1) Antibiotic (ampicillin, metronidazole, vancomycin, and neomycin sulfate)
(2) Adoptively transferred CD5+ B cells
Both groups can reduce the severity of EAEEnhances the frequency of IL-10 producing CD1dhigh CD5+ B cells
Ochoa-Reparaz et al. [165]Oral administration with purified PSABoth prevention and therapeutic effect on EAECD103 expressing
Wang et al. [116, 184]Treatment with PSA versus PBSDelayed clinical onset and progression of EAECD39+ CD4 T cells
CD39+ Foxp3+ CD4 Tregs
Jun et al. [122, 123]Treatment with Salmonella typhimuriumReduced clinical development and protection against EAEIL-17, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-13
Th1 and Th17
TGF-β, IFN-γ, Foxp3+ CD4+ T cells
Ochoa-Reparaz et al. [115]Treatment with Salmonella typhimuriumReduced clinical scores and reduced disease durationCNS inflammatory cell infiltration; CD25+ CD4+ T cells
FoxP3+ Treg cells
Ezendam et al. [113]Bifidobacterium animalisReduced the duration of clinical symptoms of EAE
Ezendam and van Loveren [166]Lactobacillus casei ShirotaIncreased the duration of clinical symptoms of EAE
Lavasani et al. [111]LactobacilliPrevents and therapy of EAEIL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β1
IL-27
TNF-α, IFN-γ
Takata et al. [118]P. acidilacticiPrevent and therapy of EAECD4+ IL-10 producing cells
CD4+ FoxP3+ cells
Maassen and Claassen [119]LactobacilliSuppress the disease
Kwon et al. [149]Orally IRT5Prevent and therapy of EAEIL-2, IL-4, IL-10Th1/Th17; IFNγ, TNFα, and IL17
Rezende et al. [170]L. lactisPrevented the development of EAEIL-10, CD4+ FoxP3+ Treg cells and CD4+ LAP+ TregsIL-17
Chitrala et al. [121]CD44 deletion and fecal transferAmelioration of EAEChange in SCFAs: propionic acid and i-butyric acidDominant in Bacteroidetes phylum and low in Firmicutes phylum.
Scott et al. [41]Omeprazole treatmentNo difference in clinical scoresIncrease unidentified bacteria in S24-7 and decrease in Akkermansia muciniphila and Coprococcus sp.
Mangalam et al. [120]Administration of Prevotella histicolaSuppressed EAE inducedCD4+ FoxP3+ Tregs
DCs, IL-10
IL-17 and IFN-γ

IF: inflammatory factor; GF: germ-free; CC: conventionally colonized; EAE: experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis; CD: cluster of differentiation; Foxp3: Forkhead box P3; Tregs: regulatory T cells; IFN-γ: interferon-γ; IL: interleukin; RR: relapsing–remitting; MIP: macrophage inflammatory protein; MCP: monocyte chemoattractant protein; KCV: kanamycin, colistin, and vancomycin; TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor-α; PBS: phosphate buffer solution; iNKT cell: invariant natural killer T cell; WT B. fragilis: wild type B. fragilis; △PSA B. fragilis: PSA-deficient B. fragilis; RORγ: RAR-related orphan receptor gamma; T-bet: T-box transcription factor TBX21; DCs: dendritic cell; TGF-β: transform growth factor-β; PSA: polysaccharide A; IRT5: consisting of Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus reuteni, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and Streptococcus thermophiles; LAP+: latency-associated peptide; Hsp: heat shock proteins.