Intermittent Fasting Confers Protection in CNS Autoimmunity by Altering the Gut Microbiota

Overview

Journal Cell Metab

Publisher Cell Press

Specialties Cell Biology
Endocrinology

Date 2018 Jun 7

PMID 29874567

Citations 242

Authors

Francesca Cignarella

Claudia Cantoni

Laura Ghezzi

Amber Salter

Yair Dorsett

Lei Chen

Daniel Phillips

George M Weinstock

Luigi Fontana

Anne H Cross

Yanjiao Zhou

Laura Piccio

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is more common in western countries with diet being a potential contributing factor. Here we show that intermittent fasting (IF) ameliorated clinical course and pathology of the MS model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). IF led to increased gut bacteria richness, enrichment of the Lactobacillaceae, Bacteroidaceae, and Prevotellaceae families and enhanced antioxidative microbial metabolic pathways. IF altered T cells in the gut with a reduction of IL-17 producing T cells and an increase in regulatory T cells. Fecal microbiome transplantation from mice on IF ameliorated EAE in immunized recipient mice on a normal diet, suggesting that IF effects are at least partially mediated by the gut flora. In a pilot clinical trial in MS patients, intermittent energy restriction altered blood adipokines and the gut flora resembling protective changes observed in mice. In conclusion, IF has potent immunomodulatory effects that are at least partially mediated by the gut microbiome.

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