Cited by 3,622Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and TreatmentsGut microbiota and healthNeuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms

Gut microbiota regulate motor deficits and neuroinflammation in a model of Parkinson's disease

Open access
Sampson, Timothy R., Debelius, Justine W., Thron, Taren, Janssen, Stefan, Shastri, Gauri G., Ilhan, Zehra Esra, Challis, Collin, Schretter, Catherine E. +9 more·2016·Cell

Abstract

The intestinal microbiota influence neurodevelopment, modulate behavior, and contribute to neurological disorders. However, a functional link between gut bacteria and neurodegenerative diseases remains unexplored. Synucleinopathies are characterized by aggregation of the protein α-synuclein (αSyn), often resulting in motor dysfunction as exemplified by Parkinson's disease (PD). Using mice that overexpress αSyn, we report herein that gut microbiota are required for motor deficits, microglia activation, and αSyn pathology. Antibiotic treatment ameliorates, while microbial re-colonization promotes, pathophysiology in adult animals, suggesting that postnatal signaling between the gut and the brain modulates disease. Indeed, oral administration of specific microbial metabolites to germ-free mice promotes neuroinflammation and motor symptoms. Remarkably, colonization of αSyn-overexpressing mice with microbiota from PD-affected patients enhances physical impairments compared to microbiota transplants from healthy human donors. These findings reveal that gut bacteria regulate movement disorders in mice and suggest that alterations in the human microbiome represent a risk factor for PD.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.cell.2016.11.018

Cites

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  • The increased level of inflammatory cytokines may be caused by disturbance of the gut microbiota, which may also disrupt the gut barrier.

    “The increased level of inflammatory cytokines may be caused by disturbance of the gut microbiota, which may also disrupt the gut barrier. 241”

    From Major depressive disorder: hypothesis, mechanism, prevention and treatment (2024) · cites this paper as [241]

    The microglia results (p. 5) report higher pro-inflammatory cytokines in mice with gut microbes than in germ-free mice, supporting the proposed link between microbiota and cytokines in this PD model. The passages found do not say that microbiota disturbance disrupts the gut barrier; a search for intestinal permeability and barrier effects found no supporting passage. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • When α-synuclein over-expressing transgenic mice were raised in a germ-free environment they rarely developed the cardinal features of PD such as rest tremor, bradykinesia, and rigidity.

    “For example, one study showed that when α-synuclein over-expressing transgenic mice were raised in a germ-free environment they rarely developed the cardinal features of PD such as rest tremor, bradykinesia, and rigidity.”

    From The gut–brain axis in early Parkinson’s disease: from prodrome to prevention (2025) · cites this paper as [92]

    In “Gut Microbes Promote Motor and GI Dysfunction” (p. 4), germ-free α-synuclein-overexpressing mice had reduced motor-task deficits, often performing similarly to wild-type mice. The study did not establish that they rarely developed rest tremor, bradykinesia, or rigidity: it measured beam traversal, pole descent, adhesive removal, and hindlimb clasping instead, and reported a remaining limb-strength defect. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • When these mice were either colonized with feces from wild-type mice or orally fed bacterial metabolites like short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) without colonization, they developed a PD-like phenotype.

    “When these mice were either colonized with feces from wild-type mice or orally fed bacterial metabolites like short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) without colonization, they developed a PD-like phenotype [92].”

    From The gut–brain axis in early Parkinson’s disease: from prodrome to prevention (2025) · cites this paper as [92]

    The Postnatal Microbial Signals section (p. 6) reports that colonizing germ-free mice with microbiota from wild-type mice restored motor dysfunction in the alpha-synuclein-overexpressing mice. The SCFA sections (pp. 6–7) report motor deficits after SCFA treatment while the mice remained sterile. However, the Methods (p. 16) specify that the colonizing material was cecal contents, not feces; the effects were specific to the genetically susceptible mice. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • FMT from PD patient donors worsens disease progression, suggesting the presence of specific disease-promoting microbes.

    “In contrast, FMT from PD patient donors worsens disease progression suggesting the presence of specific disease-promoting microbes (169).”

    From The Role of Short-Chain Fatty Acids From Gut Microbiota in Gut-Brain Communication (2020) · cites this paper as [169]

    The Results (pp. 9–10) report that microbiota from PD donors increased motor impairment in genetically susceptible ASO mice compared with microbiota from healthy donors. The Discussion (p. 11) suggests distinct PD-associated microbes may contribute to symptoms, but says whether specific microbes play a role remains unknown. The study shows worsened motor deficits in a mouse model, not worsening disease progression in PD patients. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • These mice showed changes in SCFAs, with lower concentrations of acetate and higher concentrations of propionate and butyrate.

    “In addition, these mice showed changes in SCFAs, with lower concentrations of acetate and higher concentrations of propionate and butyrate, substantiating that the alteration of gut microbiota is a crucial risk factor for Parkinson's disease.50”

    From The role of gut dysbiosis in Parkinson’s disease: mechanistic insights and therapeutic options (2021) · cites this paper as [50]

    In “Dysbiosis of the PD Microbiome” (p. 9), mice receiving PD donor-derived microbiota had lower acetate concentrations than mice receiving healthy-control microbiota. The paper reports higher *relative abundances* of propionate and butyrate, not higher absolute concentrations, so that part of the claim overstates the finding. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Smith, P.M., Howitt, M.R., Panikov, N., Michaud, M., Gallini, C.A., Bohlooly-Y, M., Glickman, J.N., and Garrett, W.S. (2013). The microbial metabolites, shortchain fatty acids, regulate colonic Treg cell homeostasis. Science 341 , 569-573. http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0092-8674(1631590-2/sref62)

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Authors
Sampson, T. R., Debelius, J. W., Thron, T., Janssen, S., Shastri, G. G., Ilhan, Z. E., Challis, C., Schretter, C. E., Rocha, S., Gradinaru, V., Chesselet, M.-F., Keshavarzian, A., Shannon, K. M., Krajmalnik-Brown, R., Wittung-Stafshede, P., Knight, R., & Mazmanian, S. K.
Affiliations
  • California Institute of Technology (US)
  • University of California San Diego (US)
  • Arizona State University (US)
  • Chalmers University of Technology (SE)
  • Rush University Medical Center (US)
Corresponding author
  • Sampson, Timothy R.
  • Mazmanian, Sarkis K.
Venue
Cell
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2016-12
Volume
167
Issue
6
Pages
1469-1480.e12
ISSN
0092-8674 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2558041282
Cited by
3,622
References
75
Citations by year
2026: 363 · 2025: 414 · 2024: 421 · 2023: 410 · 2022: 455 · 2021: 450 · 2020: 385 · 2019: 300 · 2018: 247 · 2017: 171 · 2016: 5
FWCI
181.05
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cell (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
  • Chalmers Research (Chalmers University of Technology) (submittedVersion)
  • CaltechAUTHORS (California Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion)
  • PUB – Publications at Bielefeld University (Bielefeld University) (submittedVersion)
  • Chalmers Publication Library (Chalmers University of Technology) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Caltech Beckman Institute
  • Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation
  • Larry L. Hillblom Foundation
  • Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation
  • Swedish Research Council
  • Mrs. and Mr. Larry Field
  • Heritage Medical Research Institute
  • NIH (NS085910)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
Keywords
gut microbiota, Parkinson's disease, alpha-synuclein, synucleinopathies, motor impairment, neuroinflammation, microglial activation, microbiota transplantation, germ-free mice, antibiotic therapy, microbial metabolites, gut-brain axis, neurodegeneration
MeSH terms
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Animals, Brain, Fatty Acids, Humans, Inflammation, Parkinson Disease, Microglia, Gastrointestinal Tract, Mice, alpha-Synuclein, Dysbiosis

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