Gut microbiome composition is associated with long-term disability worsening in multiple sclerosis. (31st December 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Devolder, Lindsay; Pauwels, Ayla; Van Remoortel, Ann; Falony, Gwen; Vieira-Silva, Sara; Nagels, Guy; De Keyser, Jacques; Raes, Jeroen; D'Hooghe, Marie B.
• Is Part Of: Gut microbes. Volume 15:Isuse 1(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-12-31
• Subjects: multiple sclerosis -- gut microbiome -- Bacteroides 2 -- neurofilament light chain -- EDSS-Plus -- long-term disability worsening; Gastrointestinal system -- Microbiology -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; Intestine, Small -- Periodicals; 616.3
• DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2023.2180316
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1949-0984

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Predicting the long-term outcome of multiple sclerosis (MS) remains an important challenge to this day. As the gut microbiota is emerging as a potential player in MS, we investigated in this study whether gut microbial composition at baseline is related to long-term disability worsening in a longitudinal cohort of 111 MS patients. Fecal samples and extensive host metadata were collected at baseline and 3 months post-baseline, with additional repeated neurological measurements performed over (median) 4.4 y. Worsening (with EDSS-Plus) occurred in 39/95 patients (outcome undetermined for 16 individuals). The inflammation-associated, dysbiotic Bacteroides 2 enterotype (Bact2) was detected at baseline in 43.6% of worsened patients, while only 16.1% of non-worsened patients harbored Bact2. This association was independent of identified confounders, and Bact2 was more strongly associated with EDSS-Plus than neurofilament light chain (NfL) plasma levels. Furthermore, using fecal sampling performed 3 months post-baseline, we observed Bact2 to be relatively stable, suggesting its potential use as a prognostic biomarker in MS clinical practice.