Multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel diseases: what we know and what we would need to know!

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) but the causes have not been defined. The disease process appears to involve interplay between environmental factors and certain susceptibility genes. It is likely that the identification of the exact etiological mechanisms will permit the development of preventive and curative treatments. Evaluation of several diseases found to be more often associated than by chance alone may reveal clues to the etiology of those disorders. An association between MS and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) was suggested by the observation of an increased incidence of IBD among MS patients. A problem in the interpretation of the data rests, in part, with the observation that abnormal findings in brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be reported as MS in IBD patients. Defining the limits between incidental MRI findings and findings compatible with MS has resulted in further exploration of this possible association.

Consequences of perinatal bisphenol A exposure in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis

“…Colitis was typically more severe in mice in the inf/BPA group; these findings are particularly intriguing in light of human studies that describe the co-occurrence of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, with MS [50][51][52][53][54][55]. The prenatal period is critical to the development of the intestinal barrier [56] and perinatal exposure to BPA influences gut barrier permeability and may contribute to colitis in females in adulthood [19].…”

“…Estrogenic compounds play a key role in permeability and inflammation in epithelial barriers, such as those in the gut, brain, and reproductive organs, through the regulation of tight junction integrity [57]. The increase in barrier permeability also disrupts normal immune homeostasis [58] and contributes to a loss of tolerance that can initiate autoimmune responses in the colon and in the brain [55,59]. Comorbidity of autoimmune diseases is not unusual [60] and in the case of MS and IBDs, ''leaky'' endothelial barriers in both brain and mucosa are associated with the increased production of antibodies against non-pathogenic proteins.…”

Glyphosate’s Suppression of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes and Amino Acid Biosynthesis by the Gut Microbiome: Pathways to Modern Diseases

“…An increased incidence of inflammatory bowel disease has been found in association with multiple sclerosis (MS) [234]. This could be explained by the hypothesis that gut bacteria leaking into the vasculature cause an immune reaction, and that molecular mimicry leads to an autoimmune disorder resulting in destruction of the myelin sheath.…”

Inflammatory bowel disease and demyelination: more than just a coincidence?

“…MS, a relapse-remitting demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system (CNS), was also found to have a higher incidence in patients with IBD compared to the general population [14]. A retrospective analysis of the University of Manitoba Epidemiology Database for the years 1990-2001 by Green et al uncovered a higher incidence of MS in CD patients compared to controls [15].…”