Gut Bacteria, Kynurenine Pathway, and Their Links to Mental Disorders

The kynurenine pathway may be influenced by gut microbiota, which is associated with several psychiatric disorders.

• The intestine and gut-associated lymphoid tissue serve as the largest immune organ in the human body.
• Disturbances in gut biodiversity may lead to increased gut permeability and systemic inflammation.
• Proinflammatory cytokines can induce enzymes in the kynurenine pathway, resulting in neuroactive metabolites linked to psychiatric disorders.
• Certain bacterial species may directly influence the kynurenine pathway.
• Evidence indicates that probiotics could reduce the toxicity of kynurenine metabolites by affecting proinflammatory cytokines.
• Gut microbiota may represent a potential target for future therapeutic strategies related to psychiatric conditions.

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