ArticleMultiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)2019
Evidence of Clostridium perfringens epsilon toxin associated with multiple sclerosis.
Article in Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England), 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 40 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
40 citing papers in PubMed, 66 citations in OpenAlex.
- From structural code to immunomodulation: the structure-activity relationship, molecular mechanisms, and translational medicine challenges of yam (Frontiers in immunology · 2026Review
- Potential mechanisms linking bacterial factors to the development and progression of multiple sclerosis.Infectious medicine · 2025Review
- Prevalence of epsilon toxin-producing Clostridium perfringens isolates among patients with multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder in Iran.BMC neurology · 2025Article
- Does Clostridium Perfringens Epsilon Toxin Mimic an Auto-Antigen Involved in Multiple Sclerosis?Toxins · 2025Observational
- Epsilon Toxin fromToxins · 2024Article
- The epsilon toxin from Clostridium perfringens stimulates calcium-activated chloride channels, generating extracellular vesicles in Xenopus oocytes.Pharmacology research & perspectives · 2024Article
- Multiple Sclerosis andBiomedicines · 2024Article
- The Molecular Architecture and Mode of Action ofToxins · 2024Review
- Article
- IsMultiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England) · 2023Review
- Article
- Review
- Epsilon toxin-producing Clostridium perfringens colonize the multiple sclerosis gut microbiome overcoming CNS immune privilege.The Journal of clinical investigation · 2023Article
- Gut Microbiota Changes during Dimethyl Fumarate Treatment in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis.International journal of molecular sciences · 2023Article
- Interaction ofToxins · 2022Article
- Pathology and Pathogenesis of Brain Lesions Produced byInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2022Review
- Intestinal inflammation and the microbiota: Beyond diversity.World journal of gastroenterology · 2022Article
- Review
- Plant Polysaccharides Modulate Immune Function via the Gut Microbiome and May Have Potential in COVID-19 Therapy.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Review
- Bacterial neurotoxic metabolites in multiple sclerosis cerebrospinal fluid and plasma.Brain : a journal of neurology · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
12 authors at 6 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIt was recently reported that, using Western blotting, some multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in the United States had antibodies against epsilon toxin (Etx) from Clostridium perfringens, suggesting that the toxin may play a role in the disease.
objectiveWe investigated for serum antibodies against Etx in UK patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis (CDMS) or presenting with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) or optic neuritis (ON) and in age- and gender-matched controls.
methodsWe tested sera from CDMS, CIS or ON patients or controls by Western blotting. We also tested CDMS sera for reactivity with linear overlapping peptides spanning the amino acid sequence (Pepscan) of Etx.
resultsUsing Western blotting, 24% of sera in the combined CDMS, CIS and ON groups ( n = 125) reacted with Etx. In the control group ( n = 125), 10% of the samples reacted. Using Pepscan, 33% of sera tested reacted with at least one peptide, whereas in the control group only 16% of sera reacted. Out of 61 samples, 21 (43%) were positive to one or other testing methodology. Three samples were positive by Western blotting and Pepscan.
conclusionOur results broadly support the previous findings and the role of Etx in the aetiology of MS warrants further investigation.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.