Gut microbiota in early pediatric multiple sclerosis: a case−control study Original paper
Researched by:
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Karen Pendergrass
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Karen Pendergrass
Karen Pendergrass is a microbiome researcher specializing in microbiome-targeted interventions (MBTIs). She systematically analyzes scientific literature to identify microbial patterns, develop hypotheses, and validate interventions. As the founder of the Microbiome Signatures Database, she bridges microbiome research with clinical practice. In 2012, based on her own investigative research, she became the first documented case of FMT for Celiac Disease—four years before the first published case study.
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Autoimmune Diseases
Autoimmune Diseases
Autoimmune disease is when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's tissues, often linked to imbalances in the microbiome, which can disrupt immune regulation and contribute to disease development.
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Karen Pendergrass
Researched by:
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Karen Pendergrass
ID
Karen Pendergrass
Microbiome Signatures identifies and validates condition-specific microbiome shifts and interventions to accelerate clinical translation. Our multidisciplinary team supports clinicians, researchers, and innovators in turning microbiome science into actionable medicine.
Karen Pendergrass
What was studied?
This study explored the gut microbiota of children diagnosed with early-onset pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) and compared it to controls of similar age and sex. The researchers aimed to identify gut microbial community differences, including taxonomic and functional perturbations, and examined the influence of immunomodulatory drug (IMD) exposure. This study also predicted functional metabolic pathways based on microbial profiles.
Who was studied?
The study involved 18 children with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and 17 healthy controls. The participants, aged 4 to 18 years, were enrolled from a University of California, San Francisco pediatric clinic. MS cases were within two years of symptom onset, with half being IMD-naïve. Both groups were matched by age and sex, with controls lacking autoimmune conditions or recent antibiotic exposure.
What were the most important findings?
The study revealed significant microbial differences between pediatric MS cases and controls. MS cases exhibited an enrichment in pro-inflammatory taxa, including Desulfovibrionaceae (e.g., Bilophila, Desulfovibrio) and Christensenellaceae, and a depletion of anti-inflammatory taxa such as Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae. Additionally, metabolic pathways related to glutathione metabolism were enriched in MS cases, regardless of IMD exposure. Notably, IMD exposure correlated with reduced beta diversity variations, suggesting partial modulation of the microbiome toward a more control-like composition. Furthermore, the study observed shifts in microbial genes involved in lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis and immune modulation, linking gut dysbiosis with potential mechanisms of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.
What are the greatest implications of this study?
This study highlights the potential role of gut microbiota in the early pathogenesis of pediatric MS. The observed microbial dysbiosis aligns with a pro-inflammatory milieu that may contribute to immune dysregulation in MS. The findings underscore the importance of gut-targeted interventions, such as dietary modifications or probiotics, as potential therapeutic strategies. The results also emphasize the need for longitudinal studies to elucidate causative versus consequential relationships between gut dysbiosis and MS development.