Commensal microbiota and myelin autoantigen cooperate to trigger autoimmune demyelination

There is controversy over the nature of the early stages of multiple sclerosis: some suggest that the initiation process involves primary changes in the central nervous system, others that pathogenesis originates in the immune system. Support for the latter concept comes from the finding that intact commensal microbiota are required for autoimmune disease in a spontaneous mouse model for relapsingremitting multiple sclerosis. Microbial exposure is necessary but not sufficient for disease induction, which requires the presence of the target myelin autoantigen, MOG. The possible involvement of diet and microbiota in autoimmune disease may provide novel therapeutic approaches.