ACTRIMS 2022 | The gut microbiome in relapsing versus progressive multiple sclerosis

Daiki Takewaki, MD, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan, talks on a comparison of the gut microbiome alterations seen in patients with relapsing-remitting (RRMS) versus secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). Using 16S rRNA gene and whole metagenomic sequencing data from fecal samples, significant changes in the abundance of several species were seen in patients with MS compared to healthy controls. In RRMS, the abundance of butyrate and propionate was markedly reduced compared to healthy controls. An increase in microbial genes involved in DNA mismatch repair was seen in SPMS as compared to RRMS. While limited differences were seen in bacterial composition between the microbiome of patients RRMS and SPMS, the reduced SCFA biosynthesis in RRMS and elevated oxidative level in SPMS were characteristic. This interview took place at the ACTRIMS Forum 2022 in West Palm Beach, Florida.