MICROBIOME FACTOR OF COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT PROGRESSION IN PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

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Relevance. In recent years, it has been established that the microbiota inhabiting the intestines and other parts of the body plays an important role in the formation of immunity and can affect the course of MS and the severity of cognitive impairment. The results of some studies also indicate a link between the microbiota and the effectiveness of MS treatment. Therefore, the work devoted to the study of the influence of microbiota on the course of MS and the development of new treatment methods based on this connection is significant and may lead to new methods of diagnosis and treatment of this disease.Materials and methods. The object of the study were patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and healthy people. In the first group (control (healthy people) there were 13 people. In the second group (patients with MS and an increased value of Alistipes) 13 people. In the third group (patients with MS and an increased value of Alistipes and Bacteroides vulgatus) 13 people. In order to identify cognitive impairments in multiple sclerosis, the Montreal cognitive function assessment scale was used. One of the methods of microbiome research is genetic sequencing of DNA from a fragment of the 16S rRNA gene. The species diversity of bacteria detected by DNA sequencing from a fragment of the 16S rRNA gene significantly exceeds that when using traditional microbiological methods. The higher diversity of bacteria obtained by using this analysis gives it tangible value and allows for a broad interpretation of the results of the analysis in practical medicine.

Results. The microbiome state was analyzed in patients with multiple sclerosis and the control group. The result showed that the value of such microorganisms as Alistipes (10.42%) and Bacteroides vulgatus (15.3%) was significantly exceeded in the third group in relation to the second. The second group has an increased value of Alistipes (8.16%). The high value of Alistipes is the excessive production of succinate and protein catabolism products.Bacteria of this genus use simple sugars (including lactose) and protein for energy. Key metabolites produced: It mainly produces succinate, and can also produce low amounts of acetate and the neurotransmitter GABA. that's an ordinary inhabitant of the intestine. Fuel sources used: it can use fiber, resistant starch, simple sugars (including lactose), a wide range of proteins and mucus as energy sources. Key metabolites produced: it can produce succinate, lactate and short-chain fatty acid acetate. It can also produce GABA. When analyzing cognitive functions, the following results were obtained: the first group, when passing the Montreal cognitive function assessment scale, has a result of 29-30. The second group, when passing the Montreal cognitive function assessment scale, has a score of 26-27. The third group, when passing the Montreal cognitive function assessment scale, has a score of 25 or lower.Discussion. Thus, the analysis of the human microbiome showed the dependence of the composition of the microbiota on the progression of cognitive impairment in patients with multiple sclerosis. Also, a direct relationship between cognitive impairment and the presence of an increased index of such species as Alistipes and Bacteroides vulgatus was revealed. In the future, it is planned to substantiate the personalized appointment of psychobiotics (probiotics) in people with multiple sclerosis.

About the authors

Nikita A. Khripushin

Author for correspondence.
Email: hripushinn@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-2286-2838
SPIN-code: 2903-1391
Russian Federation, 394036, Russia, Voronezh, Studentskaya str., 12

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