Intestinal barrier damage caused by addictive substance use disorder

Abstract Addictive substance use disorder has a wide range of effects on the intestinal barrier, including damage to the biological, chemical, mechanical, and immune barriers. Damage to the intestinal barrier caused by addictive substance use disorder allows harmful substances and bacteria to cross...

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Main Authors: Yan Gao, Deshenyue Kong, Jia-xue Sun, Zhong-xu Ma, Guang-qing Wang, Xing-feng Ma, Liang Sun, Hua-you Luo, Yu Xu, Kun-hua Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:European Journal of Medical Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02446-1
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author Yan Gao
Deshenyue Kong
Jia-xue Sun
Zhong-xu Ma
Guang-qing Wang
Xing-feng Ma
Liang Sun
Hua-you Luo
Yu Xu
Kun-hua Wang
author_facet Yan Gao
Deshenyue Kong
Jia-xue Sun
Zhong-xu Ma
Guang-qing Wang
Xing-feng Ma
Liang Sun
Hua-you Luo
Yu Xu
Kun-hua Wang
author_sort Yan Gao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Addictive substance use disorder has a wide range of effects on the intestinal barrier, including damage to the biological, chemical, mechanical, and immune barriers. Damage to the intestinal barrier caused by addictive substance use disorder allows harmful substances and bacteria to cross the intestinal barrier into the circulatory system, leading to systemic inflammatory responses and immune imbalances. In addition, the interaction between the gut flora and the central nervous system is recognized as an important component of the gut–brain axis. Gut barrier damage leads to dysbiosis, which in turn affects brain function by activating immune cells and releasing inflammatory factors. This may lead to altered mood and cognitive function, increased addictive substance cravings, and dependence. Recent research has indicated that reshaping the gut–brain axis and adjusting the composition and abundance of gut microbiota holds promise in alleviating withdrawal symptoms with addictive substance dependence. This article reviews the effects of addictive substance use disorder on the intestinal barrier and explores the possibility of improving addictive substance dependence by treating gut barrier damage.
format Article
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institution OA Journals
issn 2047-783X
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series European Journal of Medical Research
spelling doaj-art-0ef52e5562a84d2aa389c724fd1ea4652025-08-20T01:53:16ZengBMCEuropean Journal of Medical Research2047-783X2025-04-0130111110.1186/s40001-025-02446-1Intestinal barrier damage caused by addictive substance use disorderYan Gao0Deshenyue Kong1Jia-xue Sun2Zhong-xu Ma3Guang-qing Wang4Xing-feng Ma5Liang Sun6Hua-you Luo7Yu Xu8Kun-hua Wang9Yunnan Technological Innovation Centre of Drug Addiction Medicine, Yunnan UniversityYunnan Technological Innovation Centre of Drug Addiction Medicine, Yunnan UniversityYunnan Technological Innovation Centre of Drug Addiction Medicine, Yunnan UniversityThird People’s Hospital of Kunming CityDrug Rehabilitation Administration of Yunnan ProvinceDrug Rehabilitation Administration of Yunnan ProvinceDepartment of Gastrointestinal and Hernia Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical UniversityDepartment of Gastrointestinal and Hernia Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical UniversityYunnan Technological Innovation Centre of Drug Addiction Medicine, Yunnan UniversityYunnan Technological Innovation Centre of Drug Addiction Medicine, Yunnan UniversityAbstract Addictive substance use disorder has a wide range of effects on the intestinal barrier, including damage to the biological, chemical, mechanical, and immune barriers. Damage to the intestinal barrier caused by addictive substance use disorder allows harmful substances and bacteria to cross the intestinal barrier into the circulatory system, leading to systemic inflammatory responses and immune imbalances. In addition, the interaction between the gut flora and the central nervous system is recognized as an important component of the gut–brain axis. Gut barrier damage leads to dysbiosis, which in turn affects brain function by activating immune cells and releasing inflammatory factors. This may lead to altered mood and cognitive function, increased addictive substance cravings, and dependence. Recent research has indicated that reshaping the gut–brain axis and adjusting the composition and abundance of gut microbiota holds promise in alleviating withdrawal symptoms with addictive substance dependence. This article reviews the effects of addictive substance use disorder on the intestinal barrier and explores the possibility of improving addictive substance dependence by treating gut barrier damage.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02446-1Addictive substance use disorderIntestinal barrierGut floraThe gut–brain axis
spellingShingle Yan Gao
Deshenyue Kong
Jia-xue Sun
Zhong-xu Ma
Guang-qing Wang
Xing-feng Ma
Liang Sun
Hua-you Luo
Yu Xu
Kun-hua Wang
Intestinal barrier damage caused by addictive substance use disorder
European Journal of Medical Research
Addictive substance use disorder
Intestinal barrier
Gut flora
The gut–brain axis
title Intestinal barrier damage caused by addictive substance use disorder
title_full Intestinal barrier damage caused by addictive substance use disorder
title_fullStr Intestinal barrier damage caused by addictive substance use disorder
title_full_unstemmed Intestinal barrier damage caused by addictive substance use disorder
title_short Intestinal barrier damage caused by addictive substance use disorder
title_sort intestinal barrier damage caused by addictive substance use disorder
topic Addictive substance use disorder
Intestinal barrier
Gut flora
The gut–brain axis
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02446-1
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