Multiple sclerosis in mice was cured by "reprogramming" the microbiota
Neurobiologists have found a way to prevent chronic inflammation that leads to the development of multiple sclerosis.Researchers at the University of Virginia Medical Center (UVA Health) have developed a method to prevent the cause of multiple sclerosis rather than fight the symptoms. In a mouse model, they showed that by controlling the Ah-receptor (aromatic hydrocarbon receptor), it is possible to prevent the development of neuroinflammation and cure the autoimmune disease.
Although the causes of multiple sclerosis are not yet fully known, previous studies have shown a correlation between the state of the gut microbiome and this autoimmune reaction. In their study, scientists showed that the Ah-receptor in "barrier tissues" such as the gut influences the development of "harmful inflammation.
In experiments on mice, biologists blocked the activity of a gene related to the Ah-receptor in T-lymphocytes (T-cells). As a result of genetic "reprogramming" in the microbiome of experimental subjects began to form compounds such as bile salts and fatty acids with a short chain, which hinder the development of T-cells. As a consequence, disabling the receptor led to a reduction in inflammation and recovery in the mice.
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease caused by T cells that damage the myelin of the central nervous system. This disrupts the transmission of signals between neurons and causes a large number of different symptoms, including physical, mental, and sometimes mental problems.
So far, there is no cure for the disease, and treatments are aimed at helping patients manage their symptoms, control exacerbations, and slow the progression of the disease. It is not yet known whether the proposed method will work effectively in humans, but the discovery of the relationship between Ah-receptors and the development of multiple sclerosis opens a new direction for the search for potential drugs.
Source: The activity of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor in T cells tunes the gut microenvironment to sustain autoimmunity and neuroinflammation | PLOS Biology