In the human intestine there is a complex microbiota, a set of microorganisms, which contains bacteria, viruses and fungi. This gut microbiota is dynamic and it is affected by several interferences, including gender, age, nutrition, stress, and medicines. It is important to remember that the intestine begins to colonize immediately after birth. In fact, many functions of organisms can be related to the gut microbiota, in this topic especially, the development and modulation of the central nervous system, thus forming the microbiota-gut-brain axis, a bidirectional communication system.
Alterations in the composition of gut microbiota are related with many diseases, as well as inflammatory diseases and depression. In this regard, studies have demonstrated that systemic inflammation and neuro-inflammation could cause depression, and the source of this may be the integrity of gut microbiota. An interesting study demonstrated that fecal microbiota transplantation from depressed patients to rats treated with antibiotics induce depressive-like characteristics in the animals. This suggests that gut microbiota could contribute to development of features of depression and could be a target in the treatment and prevention of this mental disorder. Although the mechanisms linking intestinal bacteria and mental disorders are still unclear, many investigations demonstrate potential pathways through which the gut microbiota can influence brain function, between them, modulation of hypothalamic - hypophyseal – adrenal axis and immunity and antioxidant systems, neurotransmitter levels, enzymatic inhibition, as monoamine oxidase enzyme. Furthermore, some antidepressants present an antimicrobial mechanism of action, for example, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors destroy the bacterial cell wall. In this context, preclinical and clinical studies that show the treatment options that modify the gut microbiota, including, for example, prebiotics and probiotics, are important to science and could contribute to finding new treatments for depression.
This Research Topic’s aim is to collect current knowledge and advanced studies on the role of intestinal microbiota in depression and discuss the treatments that alter the gut microbiota.
We welcome authors to contribute with all types of articles focusing on:
● Original research and review articles that provide information of gut-microbiota-brain axis;
● Preclinical and clinical studies of the involvement gut-microbiota-brain axis in the depression;
● Mechanisms of depression targeting the microbiota-gut-brain axis in the animal models;
● Therapeutic strategies;
In the human intestine there is a complex microbiota, a set of microorganisms, which contains bacteria, viruses and fungi. This gut microbiota is dynamic and it is affected by several interferences, including gender, age, nutrition, stress, and medicines. It is important to remember that the intestine begins to colonize immediately after birth. In fact, many functions of organisms can be related to the gut microbiota, in this topic especially, the development and modulation of the central nervous system, thus forming the microbiota-gut-brain axis, a bidirectional communication system.
Alterations in the composition of gut microbiota are related with many diseases, as well as inflammatory diseases and depression. In this regard, studies have demonstrated that systemic inflammation and neuro-inflammation could cause depression, and the source of this may be the integrity of gut microbiota. An interesting study demonstrated that fecal microbiota transplantation from depressed patients to rats treated with antibiotics induce depressive-like characteristics in the animals. This suggests that gut microbiota could contribute to development of features of depression and could be a target in the treatment and prevention of this mental disorder. Although the mechanisms linking intestinal bacteria and mental disorders are still unclear, many investigations demonstrate potential pathways through which the gut microbiota can influence brain function, between them, modulation of hypothalamic - hypophyseal – adrenal axis and immunity and antioxidant systems, neurotransmitter levels, enzymatic inhibition, as monoamine oxidase enzyme. Furthermore, some antidepressants present an antimicrobial mechanism of action, for example, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors destroy the bacterial cell wall. In this context, preclinical and clinical studies that show the treatment options that modify the gut microbiota, including, for example, prebiotics and probiotics, are important to science and could contribute to finding new treatments for depression.
This Research Topic’s aim is to collect current knowledge and advanced studies on the role of intestinal microbiota in depression and discuss the treatments that alter the gut microbiota.
We welcome authors to contribute with all types of articles focusing on:
● Original research and review articles that provide information of gut-microbiota-brain axis;
● Preclinical and clinical studies of the involvement gut-microbiota-brain axis in the depression;
● Mechanisms of depression targeting the microbiota-gut-brain axis in the animal models;
● Therapeutic strategies;