Effects Of Sugar-sweetened Cola Beverages On The Pathogenesis Of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis In Mice

The incidence of autoimmune diseases is gradually rising in recent years,especially in some western countries.The etiology of autoimmune diseases is varied,including genetic and environmental factors.Recent reports showed that western diet,which is characterized by high sugar and high fat,could change the composition of gut microbiota or the microbial metabolites secretion,therefore,increase the risk of autoimmune diseases.As a kind of typical western food,cola beverages are containing high sugar and various additives,and have unknown effects on autoimmune diseases.Based on this,we use a experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis(EAE,a model of human multiple sclerosis)model in mice to learn the effects of Cola beverages on autoimmune diseases.Our results showed that long-term consumption of caffeine-free Cola beverages aggravated the pathogenesis of EAE,manifested as increased CNS infiltrating lymphocytes and severe demyelination.Besides,the percentage of Th17 cells in CNS infiltrating lymphocytes is increased.In addition,the pathogenesis of EAE is alleviated after the removal of the intestinal microbiota in mice,however,severe EAE recur when mice accept the reorganization of microbiota.Moreover,sequencing analysis results showed the microbiota of mice drinking Cola beverages has changed.These results revealed that Cola beverages consumption aggravated the pathogenesis of EAE via altering the composition of gut microbiota.Further study found that drinking sugar-sweetened water can also cause aggravated EAE and changed miceobiota,this may imply that sugar,as a main element of Cola beverages,has a role in aggravating the pathogenesis of EAE via altering the composition of gut microbiota.