Gut Microbiome–Brain Alliance: A Landscape View into Mental and Gastrointestinal Health and Disorders

Abstract

Gut microbiota includes a vast collection of microorganisms residing within the gastrointestinal tract. It is broadly recognized that the gut and brain are in constant bidirectional communication, of which gut microbiota and its metabolic production are a major component, and form the so-called gut microbiome–brain axis. Disturbances of microbiota homeostasis caused by imbalance in their functional composition and metabolic activities, known as dysbiosis, cause dysregulation of these pathways and trigger changes in the blood–brain barrier permeability, thereby causing pathological malfunctions, including neurological and functional gastrointestinal disorders. In turn, the brain can affect the structure and function of gut microbiota through the autonomic nervous system by regulating gut motility, intestinal transit and secretion, and gut permeability. Here, we examine data from the CAS Content Collection, the largest collection of published scientific information, and analyze the publication landscape of recent research. We review the advances in knowledge related to the human gut microbiome, its complexity and functionality, its communication with the central nervous system, and the effect of the gut microbiome–brain axis on mental and gut health. We discuss correlations between gut microbiota composition and various diseases, specifically gastrointestinal and mental disorders. We also explore gut microbiota metabolites with regard to their impact on the brain and gut function and associated diseases. Finally, we assess clinical applications of gut-microbiota-related substances and metabolites with their development pipelines. We hope this review can serve as a useful resource in understanding the current knowledge on this emerging field in an effort to further solving of the remaining challenges and fulfilling its potential.

Antiaging Strategies and Remedies: A Landscape of Research Progress and Promise

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Aging Hallmarks and Progression and Age-Related Diseases: A Landscape View of Research Advancement

“…With respect to the annual trends in the aging hallmark related publications, steady annual growth has been seen in those related to stem cell exhaustion, altered intercellular communication, impaired autophagy, and especially dysbiosis (Figure B). Indeed, the extreme significance of gut microbiome in multiple aspects of human health is recently becoming well renowned and a hot topic in scientific research . Substantial data suggest that the gut microbiome plays a role in virtually all physiological processes in the human body, including metabolism and immune homeostasis.…”

Cancer-Stem-Cell Phenotype-Guided Discovery of a Microbiota-Inspired Synthetic Compound Targeting NPM1 for Leukemia

“…The human microbiota is a complex ecosystem of symbiotic microorganisms that play an important role in human health and disease, in part through the secretion of metabolites that can regulate host proteins. , Microbiota can synthesize, transform, and degrade a large repertoire of organic molecules that are key for maintaining homeostasis providing beneficial functions to the host. Consequently, microbiota dysbiosis, i.e., alterations in its composition that result from exposure to environmental factors, such as diet, xenobiotics, drugs, and pathogens, eventually contributes to the pathogenesis of various diseases, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and neurological disorders. − In this context, several metabolites produced by the microbiota have been shown to confer protection against disease due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. − For example, equol exhibits strong antiproliferative effects on breast neoplasm and hepatocellular carcinoma; , urolithins have been suggested to target specific tumorigenesis pathways in prostate cancer; , niacin (vitamin B3) has been shown to suppress colitis and colon cancer in mice; , indole appears to modulate the important antihyperglycemic hormone glucagon-like peptide (GLP1), with a substantial impact on pancreatic function, insulin release, and food intake regulation; protocatechiuc acid prevents esophageal cancer; and butyrate has been reported to modulate the activity of the nervous system in mouse models . Hence, microbiota metabolism produces a wide and diverse range of bioactive small molecules that are available to the host to regulate key biological functions.…”