Retrospective Study on the Role of SCFA Modulation in Multiple Sclerosis

N/AActive Not RecruitingNCT06746896

Prof. Massimo Filippi40 enrolled

Overview

Recent studies show that gut microbiota strongly influences multiple sclerosis. These data suggest that the microbiota could have a direct effect on MS pathogenesis, although the mechanisms through which it modulates central nervous system (CNS) neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration are still poorly defined. The microbiota mediates its action principally through synthesizing specific metabolites that act as messengers in host functions, such as the modulation of the immune and nervous system, tissue repair, and stemness. The short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs- mainly acetate, propionate, and butyrate), produced by the fermentation of dietary fibers, are a class of microbial metabolites of primary importance for host physiology. Thus, the objective is to establish a mechanistic link between gut microbiota dysbiosis, reflected by a different level of SCFAs and SCFA-producing bacteria species, and neuroimmune alterations in MS. Preliminary data show a differential metabolomic profile in urine samples of MS patients compared to healthy controls. The authors now aim at deepening previous findings by analysing also the SCFAs concentration in the urines, plasma and CSF by GC-MS (their level turned out to be too low to be measured by NMR) and the microbiota composition by shotgun metagenomics analysis, to track changes in the abundance of SCFAs-producing bacteria species.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

Conditions

Multiple Sclerosis

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 65 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: \- Volunteers that have preventively signed the informed consent to use their samples for additional studies. Exclusion Criteria: \- None

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Modulation of SCFAs levels in MS patients versus healthy controls.

Quantification of SCFAs (mainly acetate, butyrate and propionate) in different biofluids and samples: urines, plasma and CSF. It will be obtained by GC-MS.

Time frame: Baseline

Secondary Outcomes

Gut microbial composition in MS patients versus healthy controls

To perform taxonomical and functional analysis of the intestinal microbiota. We will examine bacteria DNA from stool samples by shotgun metagenomic analysis.