Gut-brain Axis: Role of lipids in the regulation of inflammation, pain and CNS diseases

This 2018 review discusses the role of bioactive lipids in inflammation, acute and chronic pain, obesity and central nervous system diseases. These lipids are capable of modulating peripheral and central pathologic processes and have been linked with the gut microbiota through various mechanisms. A connection between the gut and the brain has been proposed (named the gut-brain axis) since microbial composition has been shown to influence behavior and cognition. Scientists have started investigating the relationship between this axis and health and disease, including stress-related (depression, anxiety and irritable bowel syndrome) and neurodevelopmental disorders (autism), and neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease). Russo et al. mentions an animal study that discovered the reduction of abdominal pain in rats after systemic administration of bacteria. Other findings include PEA and butyrate, which reduced inflammatory markers in animal models with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and reduced inflammation as well as pain in irritable bowel syndrome and IBD, respectively. This review provides a summary of the relationship between inflammation, pain, microbiota and various lipids, focusing on N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the gut-brain axis and their functions in the central nervous system diseases. [NPID: pain, chronic pain, inflammation, obesity, gut-brain axis, IBS, anxiety, depression, neurodevelopmental disorders, autism, neurodegenerative diseases, Parkinson Disease, Alzheimer’s, animal, IBD]

Year: 2018

Reference: Russo, R., Cristiano, C., Avagliano, C., De Caro, C., La Rana, G., Raso, G. M., Canani, R. B., Meli, R., & Calignano, A. (2018). Gut-brain Axis: Role of Lipids in the Regulation of Inflammation, Pain and CNS Diseases. Current medicinal chemistry, 25(32), 3930–3952. https://doi.org/10.2174/0929867324666170216113756

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