Cited by 2,149Gut microbiota and healthGastrointestinal motility and disordersTryptophan and brain disorders

The gut microbiota–brain axis in behaviour and brain disorders

Morais, Livia H., Schreiber, Henry L., Mazmanian, Sarkis K.·2021·Nature Reviews Microbiology

Abstract

In a striking display of trans-kingdom symbiosis, gut bacteria cooperate with their animal hosts to regulate the development and function of the immune, metabolic and nervous systems through dynamic bidirectional communication along the 'gut-brain axis'. These processes may affect human health, as certain animal behaviours appear to correlate with the composition of gut bacteria, and disruptions in microbial communities have been implicated in several neurological disorders. Most insights about host-microbiota interactions come from animal models, which represent crucial tools for studying the various pathways linking the gut and the brain. However, there are complexities and manifest limitations inherent in translating complex human disease to reductionist animal models. In this Review, we discuss emerging and exciting evidence of intricate and crucial connections between the gut microbiota and the brain involving multiple biological systems, and possible contributions by the gut microbiota to neurological disorders. Continued advances from this frontier of biomedicine may lead to tangible impacts on human health.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1038/s41579-020-00460-0

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192 of 192 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • The gut microbiota-brain axis is a two-way communication involving the vagus nerve, immune modulation, and microbial metabolism, and plays a crucial role in regulating emotions, cognitive function, and behavior.

    “This two-way communication, involving the vagus nerve, immune modulation, and microbial metabolism, plays a crucial role in regulating emotions, cognitive function, and behavior.”
  • There is bidirectional communication between the gut microbiome and the central nervous system, referred to as the 'microbiota-gut-brain axis'.

    “Evidence has unveiled the bidirectional communication between the gut microbiome and the central nervous system, referred to as the “microbiota–gut–brain axis”.”
  • Several pathways by which the gut microbiota communicates with the CNS have been proposed, including modulation of the immune system, vagus nerve, enteric nervous system (ENS), neuroendocrine system, and circulatory system via the production of neuroactive substances, metabolites, and hormones.

    “Although the gut and brain are anatomically separated, several pathways by which the gut microbiota communicates with the CNS have been proposed. These include modulation of the immune system, vagus nerve, enteric nervous system (ENS), neuroendocrine system, and circulatory system via the production of neuroactive substances, metabolites, and hormones (Fig. 1).31,32”
  • The gut microbiota contributes to host physiology and brain health by generating metabolites through bacterial de novo metabolism and by modifying host-derived molecules.

    “The gut microbiota contributes to host physiology and brain health by generating a variety of metabolites through bacterial de novo metabolism and by modifying host-derived molecules.31,270”
  • The gut microbiota influences the development and function of microglia.

    “The gut microbiota influences the development and function of microglia, the brain’s resident immune cells [93].”

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Authors
Morais, L. H., Schreiber, H. L., & Mazmanian, S. K.
Affiliations
California Institute of Technology (US)
Corresponding author
Mazmanian, Sarkis K.
Venue
Nature Reviews Microbiology
Published
2020-10-22
Volume
19
Issue
4
Pages
241-255
ISSN
  • 1740-1526 (ISSN-L)
  • 1740-1534
OpenAlex
W3094330590
Cited by
2,149
References
195
Citations by year
2026: 372 · 2025: 443 · 2024: 493 · 2023: 392 · 2022: 315 · 2021: 131 · 2020: 1 · 2017: 2
FWCI
20.53
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature Reviews Microbiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • CaltechAUTHORS (California Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
Keywords
gut microbiota, gut-brain axis, host-microbiota interactions, animal behavior, neurological disorders, animal models of disease, two-way communication, immune regulation, metabolic regulation, brain development
MeSH terms
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Host Microbial Interactions, Animals, Bacteria, Brain, Brain Diseases, Humans, Symbiosis, Models, Animal

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