Table 3.

Summary of findings on eating disorders

Sample studied	Main findings	Sample size	Reference
Germ-free and Specific-pathogen free rats	Presence of auto-Abs against appetite-regulating neuropeptides found in both groups Levels differed (lower levels observed in Germ-free rats) Conclusion: Gut microbiota modulates auto-Ab levels against appetite-regulating neuropeptides, but not necessary for auto-Ab production	n = 6/group	Fetissov et al. (2008a)
Healthy female participants	Auto-Abs against appetite-regulating neuropeptides and sequence homology confirmed in healthy subject sera Conclusion: Possible general role of auto-Abs in feeding behavior and appetite	n = 15
Male C57Bl/6 mice	Anti-ClpB auto-Abs cross-reactive with α-MSH lead to reduced MC4R signaling and influenced food intake, body weight, and anxiety behavior Conclusion: Anti-ClpB auto-Abs influence ED-related behaviors via reduced sensitivity to anorexigenic effects of α-MSH	n = 8/group	Tennoune et al. (2014)
Female patients with AN, BN, or BED	Anti-ClpB auto-Abs against α-MSH elevated in ED patients and correlated with ED-related behaviors Conclusion: ClpB protein can alter auto-Ab production and impact feeding and emotion in humans with EDs	AN n = 27 BN n = 32 BED n = 14 Control n = 65
Adult Wistar rats	Sex-related differences in male and female rat food and water intake in response to E. coli K12 gavage Conclusion: Sex-related differences in gut microbiota contribute to differences in satiety, feeding, and emotion and may represent a risk factor for ED development	n = 48	Tennoune et al. (2015)
Female patients with AN or BN	Auto-Abs present in both ED and control participants; elevated levels in EDs; differences in auto-Ab levels between AN and BN Auto-Abs correlate with of ED-related behaviors Conclusion: ED-related psychobehavioral outcomes correlate with auto-Ab levels against α-MSH	AN n = 12 BN n = 42 Control n = 41	Fetissov et al. (2005)
Female patients with AN or BN and male Sprague-Dawley rats	Human sera (from ED and control participants) applied to rat brains and adsorbed with appetite-regulating neuropeptides; reduced staining observed for α-MSH and ACTH Conclusion: Plasma auto-Abs from ED participants have the potential to cross-react with administered peptides	AN n = 12 BN n = 42 Control n = 41	Fetissov et al. (2005)
Female patients with AN, BN or BED	ClpB present in all groups, but higher in EDs ClpB positively correlated with α-MSH auto-Abs and ED-related behaviors Conclusion: ED-related psychobehavioral outcomes are correlated with gut microbial factors	AN n = 24 BN n = 29 BED n = 13 Control n = 29	Breton et al. (2016a)
Female patients with AN	AN patients demonstrated lower microbial diversity than healthy controls; diversity correlated with ED-related clinical assessments Slight improvements in diversity occurred during AN treatment Conclusion: Intestinal dysbiosis is associated with altered mood and ED symptoms in patients with AN	T1 n = 16 T2 n = 19 Control n = 12	Kleiman et al. (2015b)
Female patients with AN and/or BN and Sprague-Dawley rats	Human sera applied to rat brains and adsorbed with melanotropes and/or corticotropes; reduced staining observed for α-MSH and ACTH Conclusion: A significant subpopulation of ED patients has auto-Abs with the potential to cross react with administered peptides	AN n = 28 BN n = 22 AN/BN n = 7 Control n = 13	Fetissov et al. (2002)