- It is hoped that the proposed treatment method will slow down the progression of the disease and improve the quality of life of MS patients," says Adam Stępień, head of the Neurology Clinic at the Military Medical Institute, the principal investigator in the PROTECT-MS study, which is evaluating the effectiveness of using probiotics of the genus Lactobacillus in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. The PLN 17 million project will be funded by the Medical Research Agency.
Probiotics in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. An innovative study at WIM
Published Nov. 15, 2024 09:43
Fot. Thinkstock
The research team, whose work will be coordinated by Prof. Adam Stępień, M.D., Ph. Wojciech Szypowski, MD, and Dr. Marcin Pękalski, has developed a therapy of daily oral administration of live probiotic drugs from the genus Lactobacillus in combination with already used standard therapy with immunomodulatory drugs. The 6-year PROTECT-MS project will test the effect of this therapy on clinical and radiological features of multiple sclerosis (MS) activity.
As part of the project, researchers from WIM-PIB will also analyze the effects of the applied therapy on the immune system and gut microbiome. Above all, the aim of the study will be to analyze in detail the composition of the intestinal microbiome and cells of the immune system of patients during and after probiotic treatment. All studies of biological material collected from patients will be carried out using the most modern analytical methods available. The researchers believe that through advanced analysis it will be possible to precisely determine the effects of the probiotic strains planned for the project on the gut microbial flora and selected components of the immune system, including regulatory T cells (Treg), a type of immune cell involved in reducing MS activity and progression.
- We expect that the probiotics used in the study will act synergistically with standard multiple sclerosis course-modifying therapies. We hope that the proposed treatment method will slow down the progression of the disease and improve the quality of life of MS patients," says Prof. Adam Stępień.
The project "PRObiotic Therapy Examining Combinatorial Therapeutics in Multiple Sclerosis PROTECT-MS" will be implemented for 6 years starting in 2025. Scientific and promotional support throughout its implementation period will be provided by the Multiple Sclerosis.info Foundation. The study will be funded by the Medical Research Agency.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an incurable autoimmune disease that leads to progressive damage to the central nervous system and thus disability. The process is caused by a vicious attack by the patient's immune system cells on the patient's own neurons. To date, the mechanism responsible for the development of MS is unknown. However, modern research points to a possible link between the disease and disturbed intestinal bacterial flora.
Piotr Wójcik - compiled by. based on WIM-PIB
