Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common autoimmune disorder affecting young patients. MS and its animal model, the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), are characterized by inflammatory cells infiltrates and demyelination of the central nervous system (CNS). The development of this disease is under the control of both genetic and environmental factors. While risk factors such as viral infections or smoking are well established, the role of cholesterol metabolism, intestinal immune responses and gut microbiota remains unclear.
In our laboratory, we are interested in understanding the role of lipid metabolism and of the gut-brain axis during MS using the EAE model. Interest in the field of immunometabolism has been accelerated by the actual obesity epidemic and by the observation that obesity promotes inflammation that drives chronic diseases. Our ongoing work focuses on understanding the role of oxysterols, oxidized forms of cholesterol, during autoimmunity. We further examine the impact of oxysterols on gut homeostasis and flora during CNS inflammation using dietary approaches and mouse deficient for oxysterols.
