title: Remote control-triggering of brain autoimmune disease in the gut.
abstract: Converging evidence indicates that multiple sclerosis, an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, is caused by brain-specific, self-reactive T lymphocytes. These are normal components embedded in the human immune system throughout healthy life. Only upon activation in the periphery, the T cells assume properties that enable them to break through the vascular blood-brain barrier and to invade the brain white matter. While activation has been traditionally associated with microbial infections, recently, studies of animal models revealed a critical role of the commensal gut flora as a key triggering factor. These findings may pave the way to new strategies to treat MS and other human autoimmune diseases, and commend a reevaluation of dietary approaches.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroimmunology, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, 82152 Martinsried, Germany. Electronic address: hwekerle@neuro.mpg.de.
authors.forename: Hartmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wekerle
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Berer
authors.forename: Gurumoorthy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Krishnamoorthy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000276:immunology; D004032:Diet; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans