Metabolomics and the gut–brain axis

Caspani, Giorgia, Harvey, Michael and Swann, Jonathan (2024) Metabolomics and the gut–brain axis. In, The Gut-Brain Axis, Second Edition. Elsevier, pp. 455-484. (doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-99971-7.00003-5).

Abstract

It is now well established that a multidimensional pan-kingdom communication network exists between the gut microbiota and the brain. This dialogue is bidirectional and involves multiple lines of communication. The metabolic output of the intestinal microbiota represents a major component of this crosstalk. Gut microbial metabolites can act locally on the enteric nervous system, and/or reach the central nervous system to elicit their effects. The metabolic activity of the gut microbiota and its resultant metabolites have an important role in normal brain function and have been shown to impact on the brain across the life-course, influencing neurodevelopmental, neuropsychiatric, and neurodegenerative disorders. The metabolites involved in the gut–brain axis span a range of chemical classes including short-chain fatty acids, bile acids, choline-related metabolites, and vitamins among others. Metabolomics is a systems biology approach that seeks to comprehensively measure a diverse range of metabolites in a biological sample, capturing the metabolome. Importantly, the metabolome contains not only molecules derived from host endogenous processes but also those derived from the microbiota, and their biochemical interactions with the host. As such, metabolomics provides an excellent tool for studying the biochemical component of the microbiota–gut–brain axis.

This record has no associated files available for download.

Contributors

Author: Michael Harvey

Author: Jonathan Swann

Download statistics