Microbiota-gut-brain axis and the central nervous system

// Xiqun Zhu 1, * , Yong Han 2, * , Jing Du 3, * , Renzhong Liu 1 , Ketao Jin 4 and Wei Yi 1 1 Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, P.R. China 2 Clinical Research Institute, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China 3 Department of Gastroenterology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China 4 Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shaoxing People’s Hospital, Shaoxing Hospital of Zhejiang University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, P.R. China * These authors contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Wei Yi, email: weiyi.renmin@whu.edu.cn Ketao Jin, email: jinketao2001@zju.edu.cn Keywords: gut microorganism, microbiota-gut-brain axis, central nervous system, disorders Received: April 19, 2017      Accepted: April 26, 2017      Published: May 10, 2017 ABSTRACT The gut and brain form the gut-brain axis through bidirectional nervous, endocrine, and immune communications. Changes in one of the organs will affect the other organs. Disorders in the composition and quantity of gut microorganisms can affect both the enteric nervous system and the central nervous system (CNS), thereby indicating the existence of a microbiota-gut-brain axis. Due to the intricate interactions between the gut and the brain, gut symbiotic microorganisms are closely associated with various CNS diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and multiple sclerosis. In this paper, we will review the latest advances of studies on the correlation between gut microorganisms and CNS functions & diseases.