Moody microbes or fecal phrenology: what do we know about the microbiota-gut-brain axis?

BMC Medicine

Opinion

Paul Forsythe¹  John Bienenstock²  Wolfgang Kunze³ 

[1] Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada;McMaster Brain-Body Institute, St. Joseph’s Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada;Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, St. Joseph’s Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada;Department of Pathology & Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada;McMaster Brain-Body Institute, St. Joseph’s Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada;Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada;McMaster Brain-Body Institute, St. Joseph’s Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada;

关键词: Microbiome;    Enteric Nervous system;    Germ free;    Antibiotic;    Vagus;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12916-016-0604-8

 received in 2015-12-03, accepted in 2016-03-18,  发布年份 2016

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

IntroductionThe microbiota-gut-brain axis is a term that is commonly used and covers a broad set of functions and interactions between the gut microbiome, endocrine, immune and nervous systems and the brain. The field is not much more than a decade old and so large holes exist in our knowledge.DiscussionAt first sight it appears gut microbes are largely responsible for the development, maturation and adult function of the enteric nervous system as well as the blood brain barrier, microglia and many aspects of the central nervous system structure and function. Given the state of the art in this exploding field and the hopes, as well as the skepticism, which have been engendered by its popular appeal, we explore recent examples of evidence in rodents and data derived from studies in humans, which offer insights as to pathways involved. Communication between gut and brain depends on both humoral and nervous connections. Since these are bi-directional and occur through complex communication pathways, it is perhaps not surprising that while striking observations have been reported, they have often either not yet been reproduced or their replication by others has not been successful.ConclusionsWe offer critical and cautionary commentary on the available evidence, and identify gaps in our knowledge that need to be filled so as to achieve translation, where possible, into beneficial application in the clinical setting.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Forsythe et al. 2016