Associations Between Immune Markers and Gut Microbiota in Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis and Controls (S29.008)
Citation Manager Formats
Make Comment
See Comments

Abstract
Background/objective: Little is known about the association(s) between gut microbiota profiles and host immunological markers; we explored these in children with and without multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: Children ≤18 years old attending a UCSF pediatric clinic provided stool and blood samples. MS cases were within 2 years of onset. Controls were free from autoimmune disorders (asthma and eczema allowed). The 16S rRNA gene was amplified from extracted DNA and bacterial profiles were generated using QIIME (Quantitative Insights Into Microbial Ecology). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated, and Treg (CD4+CD25+CD127lowFoxP3+) frequency and intracellular cytokine production (IFN-γ, IL-17A, IL-4, IL-10) by CD4 T cells were evaluated by flow cytometry. These immune markers were compared between cases and controls and associations with the gut microbiota explored. Results: Twenty-four children (15 relapsing-remitting MS cases, 9 controls) with a mean age of 12.6 years (SD=4.18; range 4-18) were included; 9/24 (38[percnt]) were boys. The mean MS disease duration was 10.0 months; 7 were disease-modifying drug exposed. Although immune markers (e.g. IFN-g, IL-17, IL-10, CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg) did not differ between groups (all p>0.05), divergence between cases and controls in the associations with the gut microbiota and host immunological markers were observed. IL-17+ T cells were positively associated with overall richness and evenness for cases (r=0.665, p=0.018 and r=0.545, p=0.067, respectively), but not controls (r=-0.644, p=0.061 and r=-0.728, p=0.026, respectively). At the phylum level, IL-17 T-cells were inversely associated with Bacteroidetes abundance for cases (r=-0.719, p=0.008) but not controls (r=0.320, p=0.401). Conversely, Tregs ([percnt] CD4+) significantly correlated with Fusobacteria for controls (r=0.817, p=0.007), but not cases (r=0.129, p=0.646 ). Conclusions: Associations were found between gut microbiota and host immunological (blood) markers which differed for children with and without MS. Further work is needed to validate and explore these divergent findings and understand their potential role in MS.
Disclosure: Dr. Tremlett has received personal compensation for activities with Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Novartis Canada and Biogen. Dr. Fadrosh has nothing to disclose. Dr. Farqui has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hart has nothing to disclose. Dr. Roalstad has nothing to disclose. Dr. Graves has nothing to disclose. Dr. Spencer has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lynch has received personal compensation for activities with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Regeneron, Boston Consulting Group, Theravance, and Novartis as a consultant. Dr. Zamvil has received personal compensation for activities with Biogen Idec, Teva Neuroscience, EMD Serono-Pfizer, Novartis and Genzyme. Dr. Waubant has received personal compensation for activities with Roche Diagnostics Corporation, Genzyme Corporation, and Novartis. Dr. Waubant has received research support from Roche Diagnostics Corporation, Biogen Idec, and Novartis.
Tuesday, April 19 2016, 6:30 am-8:30 am
- Copyright © 2016 by AAN Enterprises, Inc.
Letters: Rapid online correspondence
REQUIREMENTS
You must ensure that your Disclosures have been updated within the previous six months. Please go to our Submission Site to add or update your Disclosure information.
Your co-authors must send a completed Publishing Agreement Form to Neurology Staff (not necessary for the lead/corresponding author as the form below will suffice) before you upload your comment.
If you are responding to a comment that was written about an article you originally authored:
You (and co-authors) do not need to fill out forms or check disclosures as author forms are still valid
and apply to letter.
Submission specifications:
- Submissions must be < 200 words with < 5 references. Reference 1 must be the article on which you are commenting.
- Submissions should not have more than 5 authors. (Exception: original author replies can include all original authors of the article)
- Submit only on articles published within 6 months of issue date.
- Do not be redundant. Read any comments already posted on the article prior to submission.
- Submitted comments are subject to editing and editor review prior to posting.
You May Also be Interested in
Hastening the Diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Dr. Brian Callaghan and Dr. Kellen Quigg
► Watch
Related Articles
- No related articles found.