Gut microbiome: An intermediary to neurotoxicity

This 2019 review summarizes the function of gut microbiota in neurological disorders including neurotoxicity induced by environmental stressors such as drugs, environmental contaminants, and dietary factors. Dempsey et al. (2019) offer several mechanisms by which gut microbiome remotely senses and regulates CNS signaling, including: mediating the biotransformation of neurotoxicants which effectively alters the neuro-reactivity of the parent compounds; exposure to certain environmental stressors disturbing the production of neuro-reactive microbial metabolites; altering of intestinal barrier permeability through bi-directional communication within the gut-brain axis; and the regulation of mucosal immune function. It is also explained how specific metabolites from the microbes could potentially regulate neuroinflammation, cell survival or even cell death, through entering systemic circulation and reprogramming the expression of host genes in the CNS. This review additionally looks at how the gut-brain axis is being studied currently, and offers suggestions in order to make advancements in this area. [NPID: microbiome, MGBA, gut-brain axis, gut microbiome, environmental stressors, neuroinflammation, neurotoxicity]

Year: 2019

Reference: Dempsey, J. L., Little, M., & Cui, J. Y. (2019). Gut microbiome: An intermediary to neurotoxicity. Neurotoxicology, 75, 41–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuro.2019.08.005