Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis in Depression: Pathological Correlations, Molecular Pathways, and Therapeutic Interventions

Huangdi Neijing noted the psychosomatic link between emotions and the gut a long time ago [25]. Drossman later emphasized integrating psychological and physiological factors in diagnosing MDD [26]. Subsequent animal and clinical studies confirmed depression’s impact on the GM. Advances in sequencing technology revealed characteristic GM changes in depression, including reduced richness and diversity [14,27,28,29].

A common animal model of depression uses unpredictable chronic mild stress (CUMS), such as restraint, bright light, or shocks, to induce depression-like behaviors. Studies show CUMS reduces beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, while increasing Helicobacter and Proteobacteria [30,31,32,33,34,35,36]. These GM changes are linked to impaired neurotransmitter production and hippocampal synaptic integrity [37,38]. Other models, including chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) [39,40], chronic restraint stress (CRS) [41], and learned helplessness (LH) [42,43], similarly show decreased microbial richness and specific taxonomic shifts, such as reduced Firmicutes or increased Lactobacillaceae. Maternal stress and depression also lower Bifidobacterium abundance in offspring, disrupting gut–brain axis regulation [44].

Genetically mediated factors contribute to 40–50% of depression cases, prompting the development of gene-edited animal models [45]. Studies show that knockout mice—such as Chrna7 KO [46], Gpr35 KO [47], Negr1 KO [48], and TGR5-deficient [49] models—exhibit depression-like behaviors accompanied by distinct GM alterations. These include reduced beneficial genera such as Dorea and Blautia, increased taxa such as Candidatus Arthromitus and Parabacteroides distasonis, and GM dysbiosis. Specifically, host genetics can influence the gut environment through mechanisms such as mucosal immunity and neural signaling. For instance, Chrna7 knockout may alter the microbiota via the subdiaphragmatic vagus nerve, thereby contributing to depression-like phenotypes [46]. Additionally, Chrna7 deficiency can lead to splenic nerve hyperexcitation, triggering immune effects that result in thinning of the intestinal mucosal layer and subsequent changes in the gut microbial composition [49]. Similarly, decreased Gpr35 expression induces alterations in the intestinal epithelial microenvironment, which in turn drives shifts in the GM [47]. Notably, supplementation with Akkermansia mitigated depressive phenotypes in Negr1 KO mice [48]. Overall, these models consistently demonstrate significant and reproducible GM changes. These alterations have been reliably replicated across different animal models, highlighting their relevance in the context of depression (Table 1).

Clinical studies have consistently demonstrated characteristic GM alterations in individuals with depression, mirroring findings from animal models [51,52]. The two dominant phyla, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, which normally comprise over 90% of the human GM, show significant shifts in depression [53]. Decreased abundances of Faecalibacterium, Roseburia, Bifidobacteriaceae, and butyrate-producing taxa are negatively correlated with depressive symptoms [54,55,56]. Conversely, increased levels of Bacteroidetes, Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, Proteobacteria, and Enterococcus are positively associated with the disorder [57,58,59,60,61]. Microbial changes are more pronounced in severe cases, featuring elevated pro-inflammatory genera and reduced anti-inflammatory, short-chain fatty-acid-producing bacteria [62]. Butyrate synthesis impairment and disruptions in bacterial co-abundance networks further underscore the link between GM dysbiosis and depression [63].

Clinical studies have further identified distinct GM profiles associated with specific depressive subtypes and patient subgroups. Distinct gut microbial profiles at baseline distinguished patients who achieved remission from those who remained treatment-resistant after antidepressant therapy [64]. Comparative analysis revealed distinct microbiome configurations and gut–brain axis metabolic signatures between depressed adolescent and adult macaques. Specifically, CUMS-exposed adolescent cynomolgus monkeys showed disturbances in Clostridium and Haemophilus genera. In perinatal health, reduced microbial diversity and specific taxa such as Candidatus Soleaferrea are linked to higher risks of prenatal and postpartum depression [65,66,67,68,69]. Altered GM compositions are also observed in late-life depression [70], post-traumatic depression, and bipolar disorder-related depressive states [71,72,73]. Importantly, these microbial alterations appear to be more strongly associated with the psychiatric conditions themselves than with the use of psychotropic medications [74] (Table 2).

Taken together, the above findings suggest that stress and depressive states can lead to gut microbial dysbiosis. Caused by the differences in the racial strains and feeding environments of model animals, as well as the differences in the diet and living environment of depressed patients from different regions, many studies have not obtained completely consistent results on microbial population changes. But there is no doubt that a depressed mental state can affect the structural reorganization of gut microbial communities.

The most compelling causal evidence connecting GM to depression originates from FMT studies. Transplanting microbiota from depressed donors, whether from humans or animal models, into healthy rodents consistently induces depressive-like behaviors, including anhedonia and social avoidance [27,28,75,76]. Conversely, FMT from healthy donors ameliorates such behaviors, reduces inflammation, and elevates fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in depressed models [77,78,79]. Experimental rodent models demonstrate that maternal depression can induce transgenerational behavioral phenotypes in offspring via gut microbiome-mediated mechanisms [80]. Preliminary clinical applications also suggest that FMT is a safe and feasible interventional strategy for depressive patients [81,82].

Following FMT research, studies on specific probiotic strains or combinations have shown significant antidepressant effects. Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus and L. helveticus NS8 were found to alleviate depressive behaviors in rodents, sometimes outperforming conventional antidepressants [32,83,84,85,86,87]. Bifidobacterium supplementation enhanced stress resilience and reduced depressive symptoms [88,89]. Akkermansia muciniphila counteracted stress-induced behaviors and molecular changes [48,90]. Multi-strain probiotics, such as an 8-strain mixture and OttaBac^®, also effectively reversed depression-like phenotypes in various models [91,92].

Collectively, these studies indicate that gut dysbiosis can result in impaired social behavior and heightened vulnerability to anxiety or depression. The administration of certain beneficial bacterial strains and probiotics may help restore balance to the dysregulated GM, thereby alleviating an individual’s depressive state or improving their mood (Table 3).

Both of these directions are supported by a large amount of research data, and can at least be activated to achieve this. In fact, the GM–depression relationship exhibits bidirectional regulation, where microbial dysbiosis influences depressive phenotypes while depression concurrently alters gut microbial composition [93,94].

Rats subjected to social defeat stress exhibited a depressive phenotype and showed changes in their GM; the feces of the depressed model rats was given to the normal rats, and the normal rats showed a depressive phenotype [76]. Feeding rats with Mycobacterium neoaurum, which was isolated from the feces of individuals with depression, can also induce depressive-like behaviors [95]. The same related research shows that CUMS was used to induce depressive phenotypes in mice and their fecal FMT was given to young mice, and it was found that the young mice showed depressive changes at the cellular level and behavioral level. Lactobacillus supplementation mitigated the adverse effects of microbiota transfer from CUMS mice [96]. Chronic stress triggers concurrent GM dysbiosis and depressive behaviors, and Streptococcus thermophilus can reverse this depressive-like behavior [97]. The depressive phenotypes caused by psychological stress correlate with the levels of Parabacteroides, and colonization of Parabacteroides distasonis in wild-type mice can also induce a depressive phenotype [47]. Data analysis using the two-sample mendelian randomization (TSMR) also confirmed GM-MDD bidirectional causality. It identified 10 groups of GM associated with increased MDD risk and 10 groups that have a protective effect [57].

The two-way validation in multiple articles is enough to show that gut microbes and depression affect each other, but the mechanism has not been systematically studied, and the process of interaction between the two is still inconclusive. Moreover, the strong mechanistic evidence of causality obtained from animal models like GF mice faces challenges in ecological validity when translated to the complex human system, including the complexity of human microbiota, uncontrollable environmental factors, and the impact of comorbidities.

The vagus nerve is a key pathway for gut–brain communication [99]. Studies show that subdiaphragmatic vagotomy prevents the development of depression-like behaviors in rodents following FMT from depressed donors. For example, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus loses its antidepressant effects after vagus nerve transection [22,100]. Similarly, transplanting microbiota from stressed mice did not induce depressive phenotypes in vagotomized recipients [46,101,102]. These results confirm that the subdiaphragmatic vagus nerve is essential for transmitting gut microbiota-driven depressive signals.

The HPA axis is another major pathway in gut–brain communication. Vagal afferents connect to hypothalamic structures, allowing stress-induced HPA activity to be modulated by gut signals [103]. Communication between the hypothalamus and gut through the HPA axis represents a fundamental element of brain–gut interactions, but recent studies suggest that communication on the HPA axis is bidirectional, with the gut also being capable of sending signals to the brain [104]. For instance, olfactory bulbectomized (OB) mice exhibited depression-like behaviors and prefrontal cortex impairment, accompanied by increased adrenocorticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) levels and HPA hyperactivity [105]. These changes correlated with altered GM, suggesting that HPA activation influences colonic motility and microbial composition, which in turn may feed back to the brain.

Many studies suggest that the GM affects brain function via inflammatory signaling pathways [54,106,107,108], thereby influencing depression and anxiety-related phenotypes. In fact, the gut harbors a large number of immune cells. When pathogens or harmful substances breach the physical barrier of the intestinal epithelial mucus layer, they activate the gut immune cells. These activated immune cells not only produce pro-inflammatory cytokines to combat the threat but also subsequently release anti-inflammatory cytokines to regulate and terminate the inflammatory response, thereby preventing excessive tissue damage. This forms part of the intricate and finely tuned immune defense and regulatory network of the gut [109].

Inflammasome signaling, particularly involving caspase-1 and cytokines like IL-1β, plays a key role in mediating these effects [110]. Probiotic treatments, including multi-strain supplements and butyrate-producing bacteria, have been shown to alleviate depressive behaviors and reduce neuroinflammation [21,111,112]. Mechanistic studies have highlighted specific pathways that promote pro-inflammatory responses and synaptic pruning. One key pathway involves the upregulation of TRANK1, a robust risk gene for bipolar disorder. Notably, serum mRNA levels of TRANK1 are also elevated in patients with depression. Another pathway is microglial activation induced by LPS [36,113]. Consistently, human and animal studies associate depression with a shift toward pro-inflammatory microbial taxa and reduced SCFA producers [114]. Notably, the absence of Th17 cells confers resistance to microbiota-induced behavioral changes, underscoring the essential role of immune activation in gut–brain communication [115,116].

The GM produces neurotransmitters [117], SCFAs, branched-chain amino acids, and intestinal hormones, all of which may enter the host body through intestinal absorption [118,119,120]. Therefore, the alterations in host metabolic pathways caused by metabolites produced by the GM might be vital for gut–brain communication.

GM significantly influence 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) signaling, a key pathway in mood regulation [121]. Clostridium butyricum elevates the 5-HT, GLP-1, and BDNF levels [122]; Bifidobacteria influences 5-HT and BDNF expression [123]; Lactococcus lactis E001-B-8 enhances 5-HT metabolism [124]; Lactobacillus reuteri 3 promotes 5-HT biosynthesis while inhibiting its degradation via the kynurenine pathway [125]; and Akkermansia normalizes 5-HT metabolism in both the brain and the gut [126]. Beyond single strains, 13 bacterial genera linked to depression are involved in synthesizing neurotransmitters such as γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate, butyrate, and homovanillic acid, highlighting a broad microbial role in regulating neurochemical balance [37,59,97].

Amino acid metabolism is also one of the mechanisms of intestinal microbiota affecting depressive symptoms [127]. FMT from depressed patients into GF mice disrupts carbohydrate and amino acid metabolic pathways, coinciding with the emergence of depressive phenotypes [27]. In particular, altered tryptophan metabolism plays a central role: reduced tryptophan-derived indole metabolites are linked to depression-like behaviors, while supplementation with tryptophan, indole, or specific bacteria such as Parabacteroides and Roseburia intestinalis can restore metabolic balance and alleviate symptoms [41,47,128,129]. Similarly, elevated proline, both in circulation and diet, correlates with depression severity and induces depressive behaviors in mice, accompanied by changes in cerebral proline transporter expression [130]. These findings highlight microbial amino acid metabolism as a promising target for antidepressant interventions.

SCFAs, particularly propionate and butyrate, function as crucial gut–brain axis mediators. Once absorbed through the colonic mucosa, they enter systemic circulation to influence peripheral organs, including the brain. Functionally, SCFAs exist in protonated or deprotonated forms, with the latter requiring specific transporters expressed in tissues like the gut and brain. Altered SCFAs levels are consistently observed in depression: studies show reduced beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacteria and Butyricimonas, which are key SCFAs producers, along with decreased SCFAs synthesis pathways in individuals with depressive symptoms [96,111,131,132]. Conversely, SCFAs supplementation alleviates anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in rodent models, restoring gut barrier integrity and metabolic balance [133,134]. Importantly, beyond these general pathways, certain SCFAs can directly modulate brain cell epigenetics. A key example is valerate (VA): produced by gut bacteria, VA enters circulation and inhibits histone deacetylases (HDACs) in the brain, exerting neuroprotective effects. This links bacteria involved in VA production and metabolism to depression, thereby bridging specific microbial metabolites with psychiatric symptoms through an epigenetic mechanism [135]. For instance, SCFAs counter methamphetamine-induced behavioral deficits via SIGMAR1 signaling, and compounds like Icariside II elevate SCFAs-producing genera, including Akkermansia and Ligilactobacillus, enhance tight junctions, and ameliorate depressive phenotypes [136,137]. These findings highlight SCFAs not only as metabolic and immune mediators but also as systemic epigenetic modulators, underscoring their potential as therapeutic targets or adjuvants in depression treatment.

The GM potentially influences depression development through the dysregulation of the peripheral and central nervous system glycerophospholipid and sphingolipid metabolism [138]. The antidepressant mechanism of escitalopram may involve the regulation of GM-dependent sphingolipid metabolic pathways. Alterations in gut microbial composition, particularly increased abundance of Bacteroides pectinophilus, showed strong correlations with elevated serum sphingolipid metabolites [139].

These metabolites and metabolic pathways improved depressive behavior and stress-induced changes in intestinal permeability in mice, but the specific regulatory pathways of metabolites acting on the brain are still unclear.

Microbial 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) expression potentially contributes to depression pathogenesis through steroid hormone metabolism dysregulation. Mycobacterium neoaurum encodes 3β-HSD, which decreases testosterone levels in serum and the brain, then causes depressive-like behavior in mice [95]. Similarly, the GM can modulate estradiol levels by regulating synthetic enzymes or HPA axis function [140]. Additionally, 3β-HSD expressed by Klebsiella aerogenes TS2020 degrades estradiol in premenopausal women, and administering the bacteria back to wild mice results in depressive-like behavior in the mice [141].

GM-induced alterations in energy metabolism also contribute to the pathogenesis of depression. The microbial metabolite butyrate enhances mitochondrial biogenesis via AMPK-PGC1α pathway activation, while mitochondria-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) reciprocally modulate GM composition through altering the intestinal epithelial microenvironment. Combinatorial therapies, such as probiotics, fiber supplementation, and FMT, can also reshape the microbiota–mitochondria crosstalk [142]. Mitochondrial dysfunction in intestinal epithelial cells alters GM composition, mediates oxidative stress, and transmits signals through the vagus nerve and enteric nervous system [143]. Oral administration of the antioxidant siSMAPo (TN) can reduce plasma ROS levels, improve depressive-like behavior in CRS mice, reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, and protect gut barrier integrity [144].

At present, many studies have solved the mechanism of microbial antidepressant from different perspectives. However, to date, a comprehensive and systematic integration of these findings has yet to be achieved. Some researchers believe that these pathways do not operate independently, but rather form intricate regulatory networks that interact with numerous other molecules to achieve comprehensive regulation [145]. More notably, the choice of model may influence the conclusion. While supplementation with specific probiotics has demonstrated significant behavioral improvements and increasingly clarified mechanisms in animal models, their translation into human therapeutics requires cautious and stepwise validation. Therefore, we should look at these results with caution.

Probiotics are viable microorganisms that confer health advantages when administered in sufficient doses. Accumulating clinical and preclinical evidence indicates that probiotic interventions exhibit antidepressant efficacy that is potentially comparable to conventional pharmacotherapies [146,147,148,149,150,151,152,153].

Clinically relevant probiotics, primarily lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria, demonstrate significant potential for alleviating depressive symptoms [91,154]. Key strains such as Lacticaseibacillus casei, Lactobacillus helveticus, Bifidobacterium breve CCFM1025, and psychoactive Lactobacillus plantarum have shown promising antidepressant effects in human studies [92,155,156]. Supplementation with these probiotics not only enhances microbial diversity but also specifically increases the abundance of Lactobacillus, which correlates strongly with reduced depressive symptoms [157].

Multi-strain probiotics demonstrate broader clinical efficacy compared to single-strain formulations in alleviating depression. Meta-analyses confirm that probiotic supplementation significantly reduces depressive symptoms across diverse populations [158,159], with enhanced benefits observed in individuals under 60 years old [160]. Adjunctive use with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) improves outcomes, even in treatment-resistant MDD, enhancing both mood and quality of life [161]. Probiotic interventions also correlate with increased abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Akkermansia muciniphila, which improved sleep quality, and modulation of 5-HT signaling [162,163]. Collectively, these findings suggest that probiotics can provide additional benefits as an adjunctive therapy, particularly in cases of drug-resistant depression where conventional medication alone is insufficient [164,165].

While probiotics show therapeutic potential for depression, certain studies report limited or inconsistent efficacy. Ecologic^® Barrier, a multi-strain probiotic, did not significantly improve depressive behaviors, cognition, or cortisol levels in rodent models [166]. Similarly, some human trials found no mood benefits in healthy individuals, though mild-to-moderately depressed patients showed improvement [167]. Additionally, depression recurrence after probiotic discontinuation has been observed, though long-term follow-up data are scarce, leaving relapse rates and underlying mechanisms unclear. These contrasting findings highlight the need for further research to clarify strain-specific effects, optimal treatment duration, and sustained efficacy. Moreover, critical questions regarding long-term safety and the ecological generalizability of single-strain interventions in diverse human gut environments require rigorous investigation in large-scale, longitudinal clinical trials [147]. The interaction between probiotics and conventional antidepressants also warrants careful study, as it may influence both clinical outcomes and the gut microbial ecology [168].

Botanical compounds and traditional formulations demonstrate antidepressant potential through targeted modulation of the GM and associated metabolic pathways. Schisandrol B (SolB) reduces bile acid hydrolysis by inhibiting BSH-producing bacteria [169] and Xiaoyaosan (XYS) and Zhi Zi Chi decoction restore microbial balance and confer resilience in depression models, with effects transmissible via FMT [170,171]. Formulations like LBRD herbal formulation (Lilii bulbus/Radix Rehmanniae Recens co-decoction) and Hypericum perforatum L. (HPL) alleviate depressive phenotypes by suppressing neuroinflammatory pathways, such as the NF-κB/NLRP3 axis, and regulating key species such as Akkermansia muciniphila [172,173]. Also, 919 Syrup and quercetin modulate microbial composition, normalizing Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and tryptophan metabolism, while reducing hippocampal neuroinflammation [174,175].

Dietary components and nutritional patterns significantly influence depression through GM modulation. Bioactive compounds such as tea polyphenols [176], jasmine tea extract [177], and caffeine [178] alleviate depressive-like behaviors in animal models by reshaping GM composition, enhancing intestinal barrier integrity, and reducing pathogenic bacteria. Dietary habits are closely associated with the community structure of the GM [179,180]. Higher intake of dietary live microorganisms and adherence to gut-friendly diets correlate with reduced depression risk and suicidal ideation [181,182,183,184,185,186]. Specific diets, including the ketogenic diet, demonstrate antidepressant effects via GM-mediated mechanisms [187,188,189]. Moreover, dietary interventions show promise in mitigating depression comorbidities, such as in cancer patients [190].

No new data were created or analyzed in this study. Data sharing is not applicable to this article.