Abstract

Altered composition of gut bacteria and changes to the production of their bioactive metabolites, the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), have been implicated in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the immunomodulatory actions of SCFAs and intermediaries in their ability to influence MS pathogenesis are uncertain. In this study, levels of serum SCFAs were correlated with immune cell abundance and phenotype as well as with other relevant serum factors in blood samples taken at first presentation of Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS; an early form of MS) or MS and compared to healthy controls. There was a small but significant reduction in propionate levels in the serum of patients with CIS or MS compared with healthy controls. The frequencies of circulating T follicular regulatory cells and T follicular helper cells were significantly positively correlated with serum levels of propionate. Levels of butyrate associated positively with frequencies of IL-10-producing B-cells and negatively with frequencies of class-switched memory B-cells. TNF production by polyclonally-activated B-cells correlated negatively with acetate levels. Levels of serum SCFAs associated with changes in circulating immune cells and biomarkers implicated in the development of MS.

Details

Title
Associations of serum short-chain fatty acids with circulating immune cells and serum biomarkers in patients with multiple sclerosis
Author
Trend, Stephanie 1 ; Leffler Jonatan 2 ; Jones, Anderson P 2 ; Cha Lilian 2 ; Gorman, Shelley 2 ; Brown, David A 3 ; Breit, Samuel N 4 ; Kermode, Allan G 5 ; French, Martyn A 6 ; Ward, Natalie C 7 ; Hart, Prue H 2 

 Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, West Perth, Australia (GRID:grid.414659.b) (ISNI:0000 0000 8828 1230); University of Western Australia, Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, Australia (GRID:grid.1012.2) (ISNI:0000 0004 1936 7910) 
 Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, West Perth, Australia (GRID:grid.414659.b) (ISNI:0000 0000 8828 1230) 
 University of Sydney, Institute for Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, NSW Health Pathology and Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Centre for Immunology and Allergy Research, Westmead, Sydney, Australia (GRID:grid.1013.3) (ISNI:0000 0004 1936 834X) 
 University of NSW, St Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research, St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, Australia (GRID:grid.1005.4) (ISNI:0000 0004 4902 0432) 
 University of Western Australia, Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, Australia (GRID:grid.1012.2) (ISNI:0000 0004 1936 7910); Murdoch University, Institute for Immunology and Infectious Disease, Perth, Australia (GRID:grid.1025.6) (ISNI:0000 0004 0436 6763) 
 University of Western Australia, UWA Medical School and School of Biomedical Sciences, Perth, Australia (GRID:grid.1012.2) (ISNI:0000 0004 1936 7910) 
 University of Western Australia, Medical School, Perth, Australia (GRID:grid.1012.2) (ISNI:0000 0004 1936 7910); Curtin University, School of Public Health, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Perth, Australia (GRID:grid.1032.0) (ISNI:0000 0004 0375 4078) 
Publication year
2021
Publication date
2021
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
20452322
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2496263019
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2021. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.