Gut Bacterial Populations in Multiple Sclerosis and in Health (P05.106)

Abstract

Objective: To compare the composition of gut bacteria in MS patients and healthy controls. Background Alterations in gut bacteria are associated with some autoimmune disorders but have not been assessed in MS. Design/Methods: Subjects were white women with or without relapsing-remitting MS who were vitamin D insufficient but who were otherwise relatively healthy. MS patients were untreated or were receiving glatiramer acetate. Subjects were asked to collect the first morning stool at baseline and after 90 days of daily vitamin D3 supplementation and to ship the samples overnight on ice packs to the laboratory, where they were frozen at -80 degrees. DNA was batch extracted from the stool, and the bacterial profiles were analyzed using a PhyloChip Assay (Second Genome, Inc). Abundance of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) was compared between groups (Adonis tests for significance testing; prediction analysis for microarrays to describe specific taxa). Results: Fifteen subjects participated in the study; among MS patients (n=7), one submitted the initial sample late, while two gave specimens only after supplementation. There was a trend for MS patients and controls to have differences in their microbial communities (Adonis p=0.15), punctuated by differences in Firmicutes, Bacteriodetes, and Proteobacteria OTUs. The bacterial profiles of MS patients treated with glatiramer acetate (n=5) differed from untreated MS patients (Adonis p=0.007). This was largely associated with differences in Firmicutes OTUs. Overall, among both groups, vitamin D therapy led to increased abundance of several Enterobacteriaceae OTUs although among MS patients, notable changes in abundance occurred in Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria. Conclusions: MS patients treated with glatiramer acetate may have differences in overall gut bacteria and in the abundance of some taxa compared to untreated patients. Although there was no statistically significant difference in the overall gut microbiome of MS patients and controls, there were some differences in taxa abundances between these populations. Supported by: NIH (EMM: K23NS067055). Disclosure: Dr. Mowry has nothing to disclose. Dr. Waubant has received personal compensation for activities with Teva Neuroscience, Actelion, Sanofi-Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Roche Diagnostics Corporation and Biogen Idec as a speaker and/or consultant. Dr. Waubant has received research support from Biogen Idec and Sanofi-Aventis Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Chehoud has received personal compensation for activities with Second Genome as a consultant. Dr. DeSantis has received personal compensation for activities with Second Genome.Dr. DeSantis holds stock and/or stock options in Second Genome.Dr. DeSantis has received (royalty or license fee or contractual rights) payments from Lawrence Berkeley Laboratories. Dr. Kuczynski has received personal compensation for activities with Second Genome as an employee. Dr. Kuczynski has received research support from Second Genome. Dr. Warrington has received personal compensation for activities with Second Genome, Inc. and Cernostics as an employee and/or participant on an advisory board.