Cited by 954Gut microbiota and healthGastrointestinal motility and disordersTryptophan and brain disorders

Brain-gut-microbe communication in health and disease

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Grenham, Sue, Clarke, Gerard, Cryan, John F., Dinan, Timothy G.·2011·Frontiers in Physiology

Abstract

Bidirectional signalling between the gastrointestinal tract and the brain is regulated at neural, hormonal, and immunological levels. This construct is known as the brain-gut axis and is vital for maintaining homeostasis. Bacterial colonization of the intestine plays a major role in the post-natal development and maturation of the immune and endocrine systems. These processes are key factors underpinning central nervous system (CNS) signaling. Recent research advances have seen a tremendous improvement in our understanding of the scale, diversity, and importance of the gut microbiome. This has been reflected in the form of a revised nomenclature to the more inclusive brain-gut-enteric microbiota axis and a sustained research effort to establish how communication along this axis contributes to both normal and pathological conditions. In this review, we will briefly discuss the critical components of this axis and the methodological challenges that have been presented in attempts to define what constitutes a normal microbiota and chart its temporal development. Emphasis is placed on the new research narrative that confirms the critical influence of the microbiota on mood and behavior. Mechanistic insights are provided with examples of both neural and humoral routes through which these effects can be mediated. The evidence supporting a role for the enteric flora in brain-gut axis disorders is explored with the spotlight on the clinical relevance for irritable bowel syndrome, a stress-related functional gastrointestinal disorder. We also critically evaluate the therapeutic opportunities arising from this research and consider in particular whether targeting the microbiome might represent a valid strategy for the management of CNS disorders and ponder the pitfalls inherent in such an approach. Despite the considerable challenges that lie ahead, this is an exciting area of research and one that is destined to remain the center of focus for some time to come.

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Crossref · 10.3389/fphys.2011.00094

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  • Gut-brain interactions might be essentially influenced by the gut microbiota.

    “It has been also lately recognized that the gut-brain interactions might be essentially influenced by the gut microbiota (Borre et al., 2014;Grenham et al., 2011;Rhee et al., 2009).”

    From The Gut-Brain Axis in Parkinson’s Disease: Possibilities for Food-Based Therapies (2017) · cites this paper as Grenham et al., 2011

  • The development of the blood-brain barrier is contingent upon the presence of commensal gut flora.

    “The development of the blood-brain barrier is now well established to be contingent upon the presence of commensal gut flora (10, 11).”
  • Exercise modulates the health and α-diversity of gut microbiota.

    “Exercise along with a number of different factors, such as diet, infection, disease, antibiotics (Grenham et al., 2011;Mackie et al., 1999) also modulates the health and α-diversity of gut microbiota.”

    From The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis (2019) · cites this paper as Grenham et al., 2011

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Authors
Grenham, S., Clarke, G., Cryan, J. F., & Dinan, T. G.
Affiliations
University College Cork (IE)
Corresponding author
Dinan, Timothy G.
Venue
Frontiers in Physiology
Published
2011
Volume
2
Pages
94-94
ISSN
1664-042X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2155058651
Cited by
952
References
194
Citations by year
2026: 26 · 2025: 62 · 2024: 75 · 2023: 60 · 2022: 134 · 2021: 95 · 2020: 71 · 2019: 73 · 2018: 83 · 2017: 67 · 2016: 43 · 2015: 53 · 2014: 54 · 2013: 33 · 2012: 22
FWCI
14.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc
Locations
  • Frontiers in Physiology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • GlaxoSmithKline
  • American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society
  • Science Foundation Ireland (02/CE/B124, 07/CE/B1368)
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-brain axis, gut microbiota, enteric microbiota, bidirectional signaling, gut-brain signaling, mood and behavior, irritable bowel syndrome, microbiota-targeted therapy, central nervous system disorders

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