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Role of gut-brain axis in neurodevelopmental impairment of necrotizing enterocolitis

Yu Wang1, Chengcheng Hang1, Jun Hu2

  • 1Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

Frontiers in Neuroscience
|February 6, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm infants can cause neurocognitive injury. This review explores how gut microbiota impacts brain development via the gut-brain axis, offering potential for future therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Microbiology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe gastrointestinal disease in preterm infants.
  • Neurocognitive injury is a significant long-term complication for NEC survivors.
  • The gut-brain axis is implicated in NEC-related neurodevelopmental issues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the characteristics of intestinal microbiota in NEC.
  • To examine the neurological outcomes associated with NEC.
  • To elucidate the role of gut microbiota in NEC-induced neurodevelopmental changes via the gut-brain axis.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on NEC, microbiota, and neurodevelopment.
  • Analysis of studies investigating the gut-brain axis in the context of NEC.
  • Synthesis of current knowledge on microbial-host interactions.

Main Results:

  • NEC is associated with specific alterations in intestinal microbiota composition.
  • Impaired neurological outcomes are frequently observed in NEC survivors.
  • The gut microbiota significantly influences brain development and function through the gut-brain axis in NEC.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding the interplay between gut microbiota and the brain is crucial for NEC pathogenesis.
  • Targeting microbial-host interactions may lead to novel therapeutic strategies for NEC-related neurodevelopmental deficits.
  • Further research into the gut-brain axis in NEC holds promise for improving infant neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Keywords:
gut-brain axismicrobiotanecrotizing enterocolitisneurodevelopmental impairmentneurodevelopmental outcomes

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