Cited by 1,513Gut microbiota and healthNeurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanismsTryptophan and brain disorders

The central nervous system and the gut microbiome

Open access
Sharon, Gil, Sampson, Timothy R., Geschwind, Daniel H., Mazmanian, Sarkis K.·2016·Cell

Abstract

Summary Neurodevelopment is a complex process governed by both intrinsic and extrinsic signals. While historically studied by researching the brain, inputs from the periphery impact many neurological conditions. Indeed, emerging data suggests communication between the gut and the brain in anxiety, depression, cognition and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The development of a healthy, functional brain depends on key pre- and post-natal events that integrate environmental cues, such as molecular signals from the gut. These cues largely originate from the microbiome, the consortium of symbiotic bacteria that reside within all animals. Research over the past few years reveals that the gut microbiome plays a role in basic neurogenerative processes such as the formation of the blood-brain-barrier, myelination, neurogenesis, and microglia maturation, and also modulates many aspects of animal behavior. Herein, we discuss the biological intersection of neurodevelopment and the microbiome, and explore the hypothesis that gut bacteria are integral contributors to development and function of the nervous system, and the balance between mental health and disease.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.cell.2016.10.027

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190 of 190 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Delivery mode and early-life occurrences such as feeding changes, infection, and antibiotics treatment have a large effect on gut microbiota composition with a long-term impact on brain and behavior.

    “delivery mode (47) and early-life occurrences such as feeding changes, infection, and antibiotics treatment (48, 49) have a huge effect on the gut microbiota composition with a long-term impact on brain and behavior (9, 29).”

    From The Role of Short-Chain Fatty Acids From Gut Microbiota in Gut-Brain Communication (2020) · cites this paper as [29]

    In the section “The early life gut microbiome and its impact on brain development and behavior” (page unavailable), the review reports an association between antibiotics in the first year of life and later behavioral difficulties, and describes effects of long-term antibiotic treatment on brain chemistry and behavior. It also says effects on brain development may occur and notes that some short-term antibiotic treatments did not produce lasting behavioral changes. The claim’s unqualified long-term impact is therefore stronger than the source supports. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Modulation of gut physiology by the central nervous system and its effects on gut function such as motility, secretion, blood flow, nociception, and immune function during neurological stressors are well-documented.

    “The modulation of gut physiology by the CNS and its effects on gut function such as motility, secretion, blood flow, nociception, and immune function during neurological stressors are well-documented (17, 29, 30).”

    From The Role of Short-Chain Fatty Acids From Gut Microbiota in Gut-Brain Communication (2020) · cites this paper as [29]

    The section on the early-life gut microbiome and brain development says brain–gut microbial communication is bidirectional and describes changes in the gut microbiome after early-life stress in mice. It does not document CNS effects on the listed gut functions—motility, secretion, blood flow, nociception, and immune function—during neurological stressors, so the specific claim that these effects are well-documented is not supported by this source. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Short-chain fatty acids that cross into the central nervous system have neuroactive properties.

    “Accumulating evidence suggests that SCFAs that cross into the CNS have neuroactive properties.”

    From The Role of Short-Chain Fatty Acids From Gut Microbiota in Gut-Brain Communication (2020) · cites this paper as [29]

    In “Prenatal brain development” (page unavailable), the review reports that administering SCFAs rescues impaired responses of microglia, supporting activity in the CNS. It also reports an effect of butyrate on blood–brain barrier permeability, but does not establish that SCFAs cross into the CNS; that part of the claim is unsupported by our copy. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The microbiota is altered in CNS diseases, which aggravates the condition, and/or its modulation might prevent or improve the development and progression of CNS pathologies.

    “The central hypothesis is supported by experimental and clinical evidence that the microbiota is altered in such diseases, which aggravates the condition, and/or its modulation might prevent or improve the development and progression of CNS pathologies (17, 19, 29, 33–37).”

    From The Role of Short-Chain Fatty Acids From Gut Microbiota in Gut-Brain Communication (2020) · cites this paper as [29]

    In “The microbiome in neurodegenerative diseases” (page unavailable), the review reports altered gut microbial communities in people with neurodegenerative diseases. It also describes interventions that improve or prevent some conditions, chiefly in animal models. But the Perspective (page unavailable) says it remains unclear whether observed microbial differences cause or aggravate disease, so the claim overstates that part. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Several brain disorders have been linked to imbalances in the microbial composition of the gut.

    “several brain disorders have been linked to imbalances in the microbial composition of the gut (17, 19, 29, 33–37)”

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Lloyd-Price J Abu-Ali G Huttenhower C 2016b The healthy human microbiome Genome Med 8 51 27122046 PMC4848870

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Authors
Sharon, G., Sampson, T. R., Geschwind, D. H., & Mazmanian, S. K.
Affiliations
  • California Institute of Technology (US)
  • University of California, Los Angeles (US)
Corresponding author
  • Sharon, Gil
  • Mazmanian, Sarkis K.
Venue
Cell
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2016-11
Volume
167
Issue
4
Pages
915-932
ISSN
0092-8674 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2548933161
Cited by
1,513
References
190
Citations by year
2026: 140 · 2025: 157 · 2024: 198 · 2023: 186 · 2022: 175 · 2021: 211 · 2020: 160 · 2019: 128 · 2018: 95 · 2017: 60 · 2016: 2
FWCI
8.63
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cell (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
  • CaltechAUTHORS (California Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Meixner Postdoctoral Fellowship in Translational Research
  • Larry L. Hillblom Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship
  • NIH (MH100556, DK078938, GM099535, NS085910)
  • Department of Defense
  • Heritage Medical Research Institute
  • Simons Foundation
  • NIMH (HD055784, MH100027, MH110927, MH1064382)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
Keywords
gut microbiota, central nervous system, brain development, gut-brain axis, anxiety, depression, autism spectrum disorder, blood-brain barrier, myelination, neurogenesis, behavior, mental health
MeSH terms
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Animals, Behavior, Brain, Female, Humans, Pregnancy, Vagina, Neurodevelopmental Disorders

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