The Impact of Microbiota on Brain and Behavior: Mechanisms & Therapeutic Potential

Jul 6, 2014Advances in experimental medicine and biology

How gut bacteria may influence the brain and behavior, and their possible treatment uses

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Abstract

Alterations in gut microbial composition are associated with marked changes in behaviors relevant to mood, pain, and cognition.

Host-microbe interactions play a key role in maintaining homeostasis.
Dysfunction of the microbiome-brain-gut axis is implicated in disorders like depression, anxiety, and autism.
Bacterial colonization of the gut is central to the development of key systems influencing the central nervous system.
The enteric microbiota may influence responses to acute and chronic stress.
Studies in germ-free mice and those exposed to infections or antibiotics support the role of gut microbiota in brain signaling.

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There is increasing evidence that host-microbe interactions play a key role in maintaining homeostasis. Alterations in gut microbial composition is associated with marked changes in behaviors relevant to mood, pain and cognition, establishing the critical importance of the bi-directional pathway of communication between the microbiota and the brain in health and disease. Dysfunction of the microbiome-brain-gut axis has been implicated in stress-related disorders such as depression, anxiety and irritable bowel syndrome and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism. Bacterial colonization of the gut is central to postnatal development and maturation of key systems that have the capacity to influence central nervous system (CNS) programming and signaling, including the immune and endocrine systems. Moreover, there is now expanding evidence for the view that enteric microbiota plays a role in early programming and later response to acute and chronic stress. This view is supported by studies in germ-free mice and in animals exposed to pathogenic bacterial infections, probiotic agents or antibiotics. Although communication between gut microbiota and the CNS are not fully elucidated, neural, hormonal, immune and metabolic pathways have been suggested. Thus, the concept of a microbiome-brain-gut axis is emerging, suggesting microbiota-modulating strategies may be a tractable therapeutic approach for developing novel treatments for CNS disorders.

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The Impact of Microbiota on Brain and Behavior: Mechanisms & Therapeutic Potential

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