title: Microbial view of central nervous system autoimmunity.
abstract: Not much is known about the initial events leading to the development of the central nervous system (CNS)-specific autoimmune disorder Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Environmental factors are suspected to trigger the pathogenic events in people with genetic disease susceptibility. Historically, many infectious microbes were linked to MS, but no infection has ever been demonstrated to be the cause of the disease. Recent emerging evidence from animal models of MS suggests a causal link with resident commensal bacteria. Microbial organisms may trigger the activation of CNS-specific, auto-aggressive lymphocytes either through molecular mimicry or via bystander activation. In addition, several gut microbial metabolites and bacterial products may interact with the immune system to modulate CNS autoimmunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroimmunology, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, 82152 Martinsried, Germany. Electronic address: berer@neuro.mpg.de.
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Berer
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroimmunology, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, 82152 Martinsried, Germany. Electronic address: guru@neuro.mpg.de.
authors.forename: Gurumoorthy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Krishnamoorthy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000276:immunology*; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008829:Microbiology
keywords: Autoimmunity; Central nervous system; Gut microbiota; Multiple sclerosis