Gut microbial metabolites in depression: understanding the biochemical mechanisms
Gut microbial metabolites in depression: understanding the biochemical mechanisms
Gastrointestinal and central function are intrinsically connected by the gut microbiota, an ecosystem that has co-evolved with the host to expand its biotransformational capabilities and interact with host physiological processes by means of its metabolic products. Abnormalities in this microbiota-gut-brain axis have emerged as a key component in the pathophysiology of depression, leading to more research attempting to understand the neuroactive potential of the products of gut microbial metabolism. This review explores the potential for the gut microbiota to contribute to depression and focuses on the role that microbially-derived molecules - neurotransmitters, short-chain fatty acids, indoles, bile acids, choline metabolites, lactate and vitamins - play in the context of emotional behavior. The future of gut-brain axis research lies is moving away from association, towards the mechanisms underlying the relationship between the gut bacteria and depressive behavior. We propose that direct and indirect mechanisms exist through which gut microbial metabolites affect depressive behavior: these include (i) direct stimulation of central receptors, (ii) peripheral stimulation of neural, endocrine, and immune mediators, and (iii) epigenetic regulation of histone acetylation and DNA methylation. Elucidating these mechanisms is essential to expand our understanding of the etiology of depression, and to develop new strategies to harness the beneficial psychotropic effects of these molecules. Overall, the review highlights the potential for dietary interventions to represent such novel therapeutic strategies for major depressive disorder.
454-481
Caspani, Giorgia
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Kennedy, Sidney
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Foster, Jane A.
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Swann, Jonathan
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27 September 2019
Caspani, Giorgia
ca711d7a-4d4b-4b99-8550-db8ed3ad612e
Kennedy, Sidney
5a4974d6-2af5-4e77-9e86-4cb3a7f74bd9
Foster, Jane A.
e1f25f28-2408-46bb-b5d7-4020b9e84c42
Swann, Jonathan
7c11a66b-f4b8-4dbf-aa17-ad8b0561b85c
Caspani, Giorgia, Kennedy, Sidney, Foster, Jane A. and Swann, Jonathan
(2019)
Gut microbial metabolites in depression: understanding the biochemical mechanisms.
Microbial Cell, 6 (10), .
(doi:10.15698/mic2019.10.693).
Abstract
Gastrointestinal and central function are intrinsically connected by the gut microbiota, an ecosystem that has co-evolved with the host to expand its biotransformational capabilities and interact with host physiological processes by means of its metabolic products. Abnormalities in this microbiota-gut-brain axis have emerged as a key component in the pathophysiology of depression, leading to more research attempting to understand the neuroactive potential of the products of gut microbial metabolism. This review explores the potential for the gut microbiota to contribute to depression and focuses on the role that microbially-derived molecules - neurotransmitters, short-chain fatty acids, indoles, bile acids, choline metabolites, lactate and vitamins - play in the context of emotional behavior. The future of gut-brain axis research lies is moving away from association, towards the mechanisms underlying the relationship between the gut bacteria and depressive behavior. We propose that direct and indirect mechanisms exist through which gut microbial metabolites affect depressive behavior: these include (i) direct stimulation of central receptors, (ii) peripheral stimulation of neural, endocrine, and immune mediators, and (iii) epigenetic regulation of histone acetylation and DNA methylation. Elucidating these mechanisms is essential to expand our understanding of the etiology of depression, and to develop new strategies to harness the beneficial psychotropic effects of these molecules. Overall, the review highlights the potential for dietary interventions to represent such novel therapeutic strategies for major depressive disorder.
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2019A-Caspani-Microbial-Cell
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Accepted/In Press date: 13 September 2019
Published date: 27 September 2019
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 439839
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/439839
ISSN: 2311-2638
PURE UUID: 44dd30c4-e617-4c68-8b87-fd8d4bddcbee
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Date deposited: 05 May 2020 16:31
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 04:00
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Author:
Giorgia Caspani
Author:
Sidney Kennedy
Author:
Jane A. Foster
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