The progression of dietary fatty acids in multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune chronic-inflammatory disease, have been found to support the immune system. The research comes from a collaboration between the Departments of Neurology at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (St. Josef-Hospital) and the Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen. The researchers uncovered that long-chain fatty acids support the development and spreading of central nervous system reactive immune cells in the intestinal walls. Short-chain fatty acids, on the other hand, support the development and spreading of regulatory cells.
Research in the medical community has largely become focused on the gut and its bacterial contents, especially regarding its role in neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis. The latest findings further reveal how the gut microbiome plays a role in the progression of disease. Diet is a large part in this connection as it can greatly affect the gut microbiome.
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Researchers revealed in culture cell dishes and experimental models that long-chain fatty acids promote the spread of inflammatory cells in the intestinal wall. They also discovered that short-chain fatty acids produce further regulatory cells of the immune system. These cells have the ability to regulate excessive inflammatory responses and autoreactive immune cells.
Researchers did not uncover any effects of dietary fatty acids when the intestines were germ-free. Further experimentation revealed that the metabolic processes of the microbiome are responsible, as opposed to bacterial strains for this effect.
Assumptions have been made, about autoimmune chronic-inflammatory diseases like multiple sclerosis, that an imbalance between weakened regulatory cells and inflammatory cells is responsible for their development. Instead of using treatment to block or weaken inflammatory cells, treatment should focus on strengthening and boosting regulatory cells.
The findings were published in Immunity.
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Emily Lunardo studied medical sociology at York University with a strong focus on the social determinants of health and mental illness. She is a registered Zumba instructor, as well as a Canfit Pro trainer, who teaches fitness classes on a weekly basis. Emily practices healthy habits in her own life as well as helps others with their own personal health goals. Emily joined Bel Marra Health as a health writer in 2013.
