Cited by 137Gut microbiota and healthNeurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanismsGastrointestinal motility and disorders

Myelin as a regulator of development of the microbiota-gut-brain axis

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Keogh, Ciara E., Kim, Danielle H.J., Pusceddu, Matteo M., Knotts, Trina A., Rabasa, Gonzalo, Sladek, Jessica A., Hsieh, Michael T., Honeycutt, Mackenzie +3 more·2021·Brain, Behavior, and Immunity

Abstract

Myelination in the peripheral and central nervous systems is critical in regulating motor, sensory, and cognitive functions. As myelination occurs rapidly during early life, neonatal gut dysbiosis during early colonization can potentially alter proper myelination by dysregulating immune responses and neuronal differentiation. Despite common usage of antibiotics (Abx) in children, the impact of neonatal Abx-induced dysbiosis on the development of microbiota, gut, brain (MGB) axis, including myelination and behavior, is unknown. We hypothesized that neonatal Abx-induced dysbiosis dysregulates host-microbe interactions, impairing myelination in the brain, and altering the MGB axis. Neonatal C57BL/6 mice were orally gavaged daily with an Abx cocktail (neomycin, vancomycin, ampicillin) or water (vehicle) from postnatal day 7 (P7) until weaning (P23) to induce gut dysbiosis. Behavior (cognition; anxiety-like behavior), microbiota sequencing, and qPCR (ileum, colon, hippocampus and pre-frontal cortex [PFC]) were performed in adult mice (6-8 weeks). Neonatal Abx administration led to intestinal dysbiosis in adulthood, impaired intestinal physiology, coupled with perturbations of bacterial metabolites and behavioral alterations (cognitive deficits and anxiolytic behavior). Expression of myelin-related genes (Mag, Mog, Mbp, Mobp, Plp) and transcription factors (Sox10, Myrf) important for oligodendrocytes were significantly increased in the PFC region of Abx-treated mice. Increased myelination was confirmed by immunofluorescence imaging and western blot analysis, demonstrating increased expression of MBP, SOX10 and MYRF in neonatally Abx-treated mice compared to sham controls in adulthood. Finally, administration of the short chain fatty acid butyrate following completion of the Abx treatment restored intestinal physiology, behavior, and myelination impairments, suggesting a critical role for the gut microbiota in mediating these effects. Taken together, we identified a long-lasting impact of neonatal Abx administration on the MGB axis, specifically on myelin regulation in the PFC region, potentially contributing to impaired cognitive function and bacterial metabolites are effective in reversing this altered phenotype.

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  • The microbiota-gut-brain axis represents an important regulator of glial functions, making it an actionable target to ameliorate the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases.

    “The microbiota–gut–brain axis represents an important regulator of glial functions, making it an actionable target to ameliorate the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases.”
  • The gut microbiome modulates oligodendrocyte maturation and myelin production.

    “Notably, the gut microbiome has been shown to modulate oligodendrocyte maturation and myelin production.”
  • Perturbations in the gut microbiome, including germ-free conditions and antibiotic treatment, trigger excessive myelination in the prefrontal cortex by inducing oligodendrocyte maturation and upregulating myelin-related genes.

    “Perturbations in gut microbiome, including GF conditions and antibiotic treatment, have been shown to trigger excessive myelination in the prefrontal cortex by inducing oligodendrocyte maturation and upregulating myelin-related genes.62,265”
  • Administration of tributyrin, a prodrug of butyrate, rescues myelin dysregulation and behavioral deficits in antibiotic-treated mice.

    “Moreover, the administration of tributyrin, a prodrug of butyrate, rescued the myelin dysregulation and behavioral deficits in antibiotic-treated mice.62”

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Authors
Keogh, C. E., Kim, D. H. J., Pusceddu, M. M., Knotts, T. A., Rabasa, G., Sladek, J. A., Hsieh, M. T., Honeycutt, M., Brust-Mascher, I., Barboza, M., & Gareau, M. G.
Affiliations
University of California, Davis (US)
Corresponding author
Gareau, Mélanie G.
Venue
Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2021-01
Volume
91
Pages
437-450
ISSN
0889-1591 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3097533391
Cited by
137
References
75
Citations by year
2026: 24 · 2025: 31 · 2024: 35 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 11
FWCI
3.81
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Brain Behavior and Immunity (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Institutes of Health (1 R01AT009365\u201001, U24-DK092993, SCR_015361)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
Keywords
myelination, microbiota-gut-brain axis, neonatal antibiotic exposure, gut dysbiosis, oligodendrocyte development, SOX10, MYRF, myelin basic protein, prefrontal cortex, cognitive impairment, anxiety-like behavior, butyrate, short-chain fatty acids, bacterial metabolites, host-microbe interactions
MeSH terms
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Animals, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Brain, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Myelin Sheath, Mice, Microbiota

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