Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA.
Department of Pediatrics, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, 33136, USA.
Curr Neuropharmacol. 2024;22(1):123-139. doi: 10.2174/1570159X20666221003085508.
The gut microbiota, composed of numerous species of microbes, works in synergy with the various organ systems in the body to bolster our overall health and well-being. The most well-known function of the gut microbiome is to facilitate the metabolism and absorption of crucial nutrients, such as complex carbohydrates, while also generating vitamins. In addition, the gut microbiome plays a crucial role in regulating the functioning of the central nervous system (CNS). Host genetics, including specific genes and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), have been implicated in the pathophysiology of neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The gut microbiome dysbiosis also plays a role in the pathogenesis of these neurodegenerative disorders, thus perturbing the gut-brain axis. Overproduction of certain metabolites synthesized by the gut microbiome, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and p-cresyl sulfate, are known to interfere with microglial function and trigger misfolding of alpha-synuclein protein, which can build up inside neurons and cause damage. By determining the association of the gut microbiome and its metabolites with various diseases, such as neurological disorders, future research will pave the way for the development of effective preventive and treatment modalities.
肠道微生物群由众多微生物物种组成，与身体的各个器官系统协同作用，增强我们的整体健康和幸福感。肠道微生物组最著名的功能是促进关键营养素的代谢和吸收，如复杂碳水化合物，同时还产生维生素。此外，肠道微生物群在调节中枢神经系统 (CNS) 的功能方面也起着至关重要的作用。宿主遗传学，包括特定的基因和单核苷酸多态性 (SNP)，与包括帕金森病 (PD)、阿尔茨海默病 (AD) 和自闭症谱系障碍 (ASD) 在内的神经紊乱的病理生理学有关。肠道微生物群失调也在这些神经退行性疾病的发病机制中发挥作用，从而扰乱了肠道-大脑轴。肠道微生物群合成的某些代谢物的过度产生，如短链脂肪酸 (SCFAs) 和对甲酚硫酸盐，已知会干扰小胶质细胞的功能并引发α-突触核蛋白的错误折叠，这种蛋白会在神经元内积累并造成损伤。通过确定肠道微生物组及其代谢物与各种疾病（如神经紊乱）的关联，未来的研究将为开发有效的预防和治疗方法铺平道路。
