The Role of Short-Chain Fatty Acids From Gut Microbiota in Gut-Brain Communication

Abstract

A substantial body of evidence supports that the gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in the regulation of metabolic, endocrine and immune functions. In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the involvement of the gut microbiota in the modulation of multiple neurochemical pathways through the highly interconnected gut-brain axis. Although amazing scientific breakthroughs over the last few years have expanded our knowledge on the communication between microbes and their hosts, the underpinnings of microbiota-gut-brain crosstalk remain to be determined. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the main metabolites produced in the colon by bacterial fermentation of dietary fibers and resistant starch, are speculated to play a key role in neuro-immunoendocrine regulation. However, the underlying mechanisms through which SCFAs might influence brain physiology and behavior have not been fully elucidated. In this review, we outline the current knowledge about the involvement of SCFAs in microbiota-gut-brain interactions. We also highlight how the development of future treatments for central nervous system (CNS) disorders can take advantage of the intimate and mutual interactions of the gut microbiota with the brain by exploring the role of SCFAs in the regulation of neuro-immunoendocrine function.

Putative Mechanisms Responsible for the Antihyperglycemic Action of Lactobacillus paracasei HII01 in Experimental Type 2 Diabetic Rats

“…Lim et al, 2016, also revealed that gut tight junction, endotoxemia and inflammation were ameliorated after Lactobacillus sakei OK67 treatment in type 2 diabetic rat model [ 15 ]. Furthermore, a previous study demonstrated that the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and gut microbial metabolites, including acetate, propionate and butyrate, seems to play an important role in the attenuation of T2DM [ 16 ].…”

Identification of Lipid Droplets in Gut Microbiota

“…Recent studies of gut microbiota have developed extremely fast and their composition and products have been associated with human physical and mental health [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. Several sophistic approaches have been established to study gut microbiota, including high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing, metagenomics, and massive bacterial cloning [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27].…”

“…Then the lipid droplets on the top were collected and washed for further analysis. 18 The size of LDs was analyzed by a BECKMAN Delsa Nano C particle analyzer (Thermo, USA). Purified LDs were stained with LipidTOX (1:500, v/v) for 30 min and mounted on glass slide for observation with Olympus FV1200 Imaging System.…”

Sodium Butyrate Protects N2a Cells against Aβ Toxicity In Vitro

“…Butyrate is under a wide range of biological functions. Studies have shown that butyrate plays an active role in brain disorders in a variety of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease [9][10][11][12]. Sodium butyrate (NaB) is a common form of butyrate.…”