The microbiota-gut-brain axis in pathogenesis of depression: A narrative review

Hui Yao; Dalin Zhang; Hao Yu; Hui Shen; Hao Liu; Fanyue Meng; Xu Wu; Guohua Zhang; Xiaolong Wang

doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.114056

The microbiota-gut-brain axis in pathogenesis of depression: A narrative review

Physiol Behav. 2023 Mar 1:260:114056. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.114056. Epub 2022 Dec 14.

Authors

Hui Yao¹, Dalin Zhang², Hao Yu³, Hui Shen³, Hao Liu³, Fanyue Meng³, Xu Wu³, Guohua Zhang⁴, Xiaolong Wang⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Forensic Pathology, China Medical University School of Forensic Medicine, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, P. R. China; Key Laboratory of Forensic Bio-evidence Sciences, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, P. R. China; China Medical University Center of Forensic Investigation, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, P. R. China; Faculty of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, P. R. China.
² Department of Thyroid Surgery, the 1st affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110001, P. R. China.
³ Department of Forensic Pathology, China Medical University School of Forensic Medicine, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, P. R. China; Key Laboratory of Forensic Bio-evidence Sciences, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, P. R. China; China Medical University Center of Forensic Investigation, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, P. R. China.
⁴ Department of Forensic Pathology, China Medical University School of Forensic Medicine, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, P. R. China; Key Laboratory of Forensic Bio-evidence Sciences, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, P. R. China; China Medical University Center of Forensic Investigation, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, P. R. China. Electronic address: ghzhang@cmu.edu.cn.
⁵ Department of Forensic Pathology, China Medical University School of Forensic Medicine, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, P. R. China; Key Laboratory of Forensic Bio-evidence Sciences, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, P. R. China; China Medical University Center of Forensic Investigation, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, P. R. China. Electronic address: wangxiaolong@cmu.edu.cn.

PMID: 36528127
DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.114056

Abstract

The microbiota-gut-brain axis is a bidirectional regulatory pathway between the brain and the gastrointestinal tract, which plays an important role in maintain homeostasis. Gut microbiota could influence the behavior, cognition, stress response and others via the axis. Depression is a complex psychiatric disease, giving rise to heavy social health and economic burden. In recent years, studies have shown that the gut microbiota are closely linked to the pathophysiological processes of depression. In this article, the interaction and its underlying mechanisms between depression and gut microbiota were summarized.

Keywords: Depression; Gut microbiota; HPA axis; Microbiota-gut-brain axis; Vagus nerve.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Brain / metabolism
Brain-Gut Axis
Cognition
Depression* / etiology
Gastrointestinal Microbiome* / physiology
Humans