The brain-gut-microbiota interplay in depression: A key to design innovative therapeutic approaches

Varesi, Angelica; Campagnoli, Lucrezia Irene Maria; Chirumbolo, Salvatore; Candiano, Beatrice; Carrara, Adelaide; Ricevuti, Giovanni; Esposito, Ciro; Pascale, Alessia

doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106799

Cited by 25 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 326 publications

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“…Both human and rodent studies indicated that probiotics reduce chronic-psychological-stress-induced abnormal brain activity and related cognitive dysfunctions by lowering plasma CORT and adrenocorticotropic hormone levels, restoring hippocampal 5-HT and NE levels, and normalizing immunity with low plasma levels of TNF-α but high levels of IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine [ 171 , 172 , 173 ]. Several probiotics, as psychobiotics, for example, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus , deliver mental health benefits with neurobehavioral effects, which have been used in humans for improving cognitive function and for preventing and treating patients with behavioral impairment in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, and in diseases with neuropsychiatric disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and impulsively and compulsively disrupted social behavior [ 75 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 83 , 84 ]. Based on findings, targeting the gut microbiota has been recognized as a novel therapeutic option for patients with neuropsychiatric disorders [ 63 , 73 , 74 ].…”

Section: Cecal Microbiota Transplantation Social Stress and Injurious...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Targeting the intestinal microbiota with the goal of restoring its balance has been recognized as a novel therapeutic option for patients with neuropsychiatric disorders [ 72 , 73 , 74 ]. Several probiotics, as psychobiotics, such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus , which can benefit mental health, have been used for preventing and treating patients with behavioral impairment, such as anxiety, depression, and impulsively and compulsively disrupted social behavior, via regulating the MGB, MGI, or both axes [ 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 ]. However, the use of purified probiotics benefits has shown mixed results, with several weaknesses including transient beneficial effects, requiring continuous administration over time due to the host’s resident microbial populations and “colonization resistance” [ 85 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Impact of Early-Life Cecal Microbiota Transplantation on Social Stress and Injurious Behaviors in Egg-Laying Chickens

Fu,

Hu,

Zhang

et al. 2024

Microorganisms

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Injurious behaviors (i.e., aggressive pecking, feather pecking, and cannibalism) in laying hens are a critical issue facing the egg industry due to increased social stress and related health and welfare issues as well as economic losses. In humans, stress-induced dysbiosis increases gut permeability, releasing various neuroactive factors, causing neuroinflammation and related neuropsychiatric disorders via the microbiota–gut–brain axis, and consequently increasing the frequency and intensity of aggression and violent behaviors. Restoration of the imbalanced gut microbial composition has become a novel treatment strategy for mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, impulsivity, and compulsivity. A similar function of modulating gut microbial composition following stress challenge may be present in egg-laying chickens. The avian cecum, as a multi-purpose organ, has the greatest bacterial biodiversity (bacterial diversity, richness, and species composition) along the gastrointestinal tract, with vitally important functions in maintaining physiological and behavioral homeostasis, especially during the periods of stress. To identify the effects of the gut microbiome on injurious behaviors in egg-laying chickens, we have designed and tested the effects of transferring cecal contents from two divergently selected inbred chicken lines on social stress and stress-related injurious behaviors in recipient chicks of a commercial layer strain. This article reports the outcomes from a multi-year study on the modification of gut microbiota composition to reduce injurious behaviors in egg-laying chickens. An important discovery of this corpus of experiments is that injurious behaviors in chickens can be reduced or inhibited through modifying the gut microbiota composition and brain serotonergic activities via the gut–brain axis, without donor-recipient genetic effects.

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Section: Cecal Microbiota Transplantation Social Stress and Injurious...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Early-Life Cecal Microbiota Transplantation on Social Stress and Injurious Behaviors in Egg-Laying Chickens

Fu,

Hu,

Zhang

et al. 2024

Microorganisms

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Finally, and briefly, the gut-brain-immune axis appears to play a very relevant role in the pathogenesis of depression, as also discussed for migraine. There is growing evidence linking alterations in the gut microbiota of depressed patients with their impact on the immune system and the eventual reflex on the CNS, being related with disturbances in monoamine neurotransmission and neuroinflammation [458][459][460][461][462][463].…”

Section: Immune Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the Biological Relationship between Migraine and Depression

Viudez-Martínez,

Torregrosa,

Navarrete

et al. 2024

Biomolecules

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Migraine is a highly prevalent neurological disorder. Among the risk factors identified, psychiatric comorbidities, such as depression, seem to play an important role in its onset and clinical course. Patients with migraine are 2.5 times more likely to develop a depressive disorder; this risk becomes even higher in patients suffering from chronic migraine or migraine with aura. This relationship is bidirectional, since depression also predicts an earlier/worse onset of migraine, increasing the risk of migraine chronicity and, consequently, requiring a higher healthcare expenditure compared to migraine alone. All these data suggest that migraine and depression may share overlapping biological mechanisms. Herein, this review explores this topic in further detail: firstly, by introducing the common epidemiological and risk factors for this comorbidity; secondly, by focusing on providing the cumulative evidence of common biological aspects, with a particular emphasis on the serotoninergic system, neuropeptides such as calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP), pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), substance P, neuropeptide Y and orexins, sexual hormones, and the immune system; lastly, by remarking on the future challenges required to elucidate the etiopathological mechanisms of migraine and depression and providing updated information regarding new key targets for the pharmacological treatment of these clinical entities.

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“…The microbiota and their metabolites play a crucial role in gut-brain signaling, forming the conceptual framework of the microbial-gut-brain (MGB) axis ( 58 ). The MGB axis is considered to be associated with the onset and progression of various neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, and autism spectrum disorders ( 59 ). The MGB axis includes neural signal networks, immune signal networks, and chemical signal networks ( 60 , 61 ).…”

Section: Fmt In Alleviating Depression Via Microbial-gut-brain Axismentioning

confidence: 99%

Current landscape of fecal microbiota transplantation in treating depression

Zhang,

Bi,

Zhang

et al. 2024

Front. Immunol.

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Depression, projected to be the predominant contributor to the global disease burden, is a complex condition with diverse symptoms including mood disturbances and cognitive impairments. Traditional treatments such as medication and psychotherapy often fall short, prompting the pursuit of alternative interventions. Recent research has highlighted the significant role of gut microbiota in mental health, influencing emotional and neural regulation. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), the infusion of fecal matter from a healthy donor into the gut of a patient, emerges as a promising strategy to ameliorate depressive symptoms by restoring gut microbial balance. The microbial-gut-brain (MGB) axis represents a critical pathway through which to potentially rectify dysbiosis and modulate neuropsychiatric outcomes. Preclinical studies reveal that FMT can enhance neurochemicals and reduce inflammatory markers, thereby alleviating depressive behaviors. Moreover, FMT has shown promise in clinical settings, improving gastrointestinal symptoms and overall quality of life in patients with depression. The review highlights the role of the gut-brain axis in depression and the need for further research to validate the long-term safety and efficacy of FMT, identify specific therapeutic microbial strains, and develop targeted microbial modulation strategies. Advancing our understanding of FMT could revolutionize depression treatment, shifting the paradigm toward microbiome-targeting therapies.

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The brain-gut-microbiota interplay in depression: A key to design innovative therapeutic approaches

Cited by 25 publications

References 326 publications

The Impact of Early-Life Cecal Microbiota Transplantation on Social Stress and Injurious Behaviors in Egg-Laying Chickens

The Impact of Early-Life Cecal Microbiota Transplantation on Social Stress and Injurious Behaviors in Egg-Laying Chickens

Understanding the Biological Relationship between Migraine and Depression

Current landscape of fecal microbiota transplantation in treating depression

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