Is the gut microbiome a potential cause and therapeutic target for autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis?

(Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News) Numerous risk factors are believed to contribute to the development of autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis, and new research is focusing on the role that bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract as well as other cell stress-related chemical signals could have in stimulating inflammation in the central nervous system and activating immunostimulatory cytokines. Two comprehensive Review articles are part of a focus on 'Cytokines in Neuroinflammation and Immunity' in a special issue of Journal of Interferon & Cytokine Research.
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news