Gut Microbiota Interventions With and Norfloxacin Modulate Immune Response in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Mice.

Gut microbiota has been proposed as an important environmental factor which can intervene and modulate central nervous system autoimmunity. Here, we altered the composition of gut flora with and norfloxacin in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple sclerosis. We found that appropriate (5.0 × 10 CFU/mL intragastrically daily, staring at weaning period of age) and norfloxacin (5 mg/kg intragastrically daily, 1 week prior to EAE induction) treatment could both ameliorate EAE although there are obvious differences in gut microbiota composition between these two interventions. increased while norfloxacin decreased the abundance and diversity of the gut microbiota in EAE mice, and both of the treatments decreased / ratio. In the genus level, treatment increased the abundance of while and increased in norfloxacin treatment. Moreover, both interventions reduced and species. Although there was discrepancy in the gut microbiota composition with the two interventions, and norfloxacin treatment both reduced Th17 response and increased Treg response in the gastrointestinal tract and extra-gastrointestinal organ systems in EAE mice. And the reduced activity of p38 mitogen-activated kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling in spinal cord could be observed in the two interventions. The results suggested that manipulation of gut microbiota interventions should take factors such as timing, duration, and dosage into consideration. The discrepancy in the gut microbiota composition and the similar protective T cells response of and norfloxacin implies that achieving intestinal microecology balance by promoting and/or inhibiting the gut microbiota contribute to the well-being of immune response in EAE mice.