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Published on: June 2, 2022
"Sentinel or accomplice": gut microbiota and microglia crosstalk in disorders of gut-brain interaction
Haonan Zheng1,2, Cunzheng Zhang1,2, Jindong Zhang1,2
1Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China.
Abstract:
Abnormal brain-gut interaction is considered the core pathological mechanism behind the disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI), in which the intestinal microbiota plays an important role. Microglia are the "sentinels" of the central nervous system (CNS), which participate in tissue damage caused by traumatic brain injury, resist central infection and participate in neurogenesis, and are involved in the occurrence of various neurological diseases. With in-depth research on DGBI, we could find an interaction between the intestinal microbiota and microglia and that they are jointly involved in the occurrence of DGBI, especially in individuals with comorbidities of mental disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This bidirectional regulation of microbiota and microglia provides a new direction for the treatment of DGBI. In this review, we focus on the role and underlying mechanism of the interaction between gut microbiota and microglia in DGBI, especially IBS, and the corresponding clinical application prospects and highlight its potential to treat DGBI in individuals with psychiatric comorbidities.
Insights
The gut microbiota and microglia interact to influence brain-gut interactions in disorders like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), offering new therapeutic avenues, especially for patients with mental health conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gastroenterology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction (DGBI) stem from abnormal brain-gut communication.
- The gut microbiota significantly influences this interaction.
- Microglia, the central nervous system's immune cells, are implicated in neurological diseases.
Conclusions:
- The gut microbiota-microglia axis is a key factor in DGBI pathogenesis.
- Targeting this axis presents a promising therapeutic strategy for DGBI.
- This approach holds potential for treating DGBI in patients with comorbid psychiatric conditions.
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