Effects of disease-modifying drugs in multiple sclerosis on the gut microbiome

Abstract

Over the past decade, the scientific research has shown that the community of microorganisms that inhabit the gut, known as the gut microbiota, is closely linked to human health and disease, in part as a result of its influence on the systemic immune responses. The accumulated evidence suggests that these effects on the immune system are significant in neuroinflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis, and that modulation of the gut microbiota may be a potential therapeutic target in these conditions. In recent years, more and more studies have been appearing devoted to the role of microbiota in the development of various pathological processes in the central nervous system, including multiple sclerosis, through the brain-gut axis. In this regard, the question of finding ways to influence the microbiome is interesting. In addition to the existing attempts through the use of probiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation, of particular interest is the search for other ways of influencing the microbiome, including the effect of multiple sclerosis modifying therapies on the microbiota’s composition. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current evidence investigating the effects of disease-modifying treatment on the gut microbiome.