Mechanisms of the effect of gut microbes on depression through the microbiota-gut-brain axis
Depression is a significant public health issue which exerts profound psychological and social impacts on both individuals and society. However, existing therapeutic strategies often exhibit limited efficacy. Accumulating evidence underscores the vital role of gut microbiota in the pathophysiology o...
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| Format: | Article |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Nutrition |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1634548/full |
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| author | Xiangyan Zhou Xiangyan Zhou Sixing Wang Sixing Wang Xiaohui Wang Xinran Chen Pei Zhou Kai Ma Peng Zhang |
| author_facet | Xiangyan Zhou Xiangyan Zhou Sixing Wang Sixing Wang Xiaohui Wang Xinran Chen Pei Zhou Kai Ma Peng Zhang |
| author_sort | Xiangyan Zhou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Depression is a significant public health issue which exerts profound psychological and social impacts on both individuals and society. However, existing therapeutic strategies often exhibit limited efficacy. Accumulating evidence underscores the vital role of gut microbiota in the pathophysiology of depression through the microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis. This involves multiple mechanisms, including short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) metabolism, communication via the vagal nerve, regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and immune-inflammatory interactions. This review provides a comprehensive review of the mechanisms through which gut microbiota influences depression via the MGB axis. It synthesizes recent achievements in this field and evaluates the potential of microbiome-targeted therapies for depression treatment. Furthermore, it outlines future research directions to establish a theoretical framework for novel therapeutic approaches and to foster the development of this area. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-376ea9b4b6b9458db7c09258ced20fe5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-861X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj-art-376ea9b4b6b9458db7c09258ced20fe52025-08-20T03:39:32ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2025-08-011210.3389/fnut.2025.16345481634548Mechanisms of the effect of gut microbes on depression through the microbiota-gut-brain axisXiangyan Zhou0Xiangyan Zhou1Sixing Wang2Sixing Wang3Xiaohui Wang4Xinran Chen5Pei Zhou6Kai Ma7Peng Zhang8Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaFirst Clinical Department, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaSecond Clinical Department, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaThe Center for Biomedical Research, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, NHC Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaFirst Clinical Department, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaDepression is a significant public health issue which exerts profound psychological and social impacts on both individuals and society. However, existing therapeutic strategies often exhibit limited efficacy. Accumulating evidence underscores the vital role of gut microbiota in the pathophysiology of depression through the microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis. This involves multiple mechanisms, including short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) metabolism, communication via the vagal nerve, regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and immune-inflammatory interactions. This review provides a comprehensive review of the mechanisms through which gut microbiota influences depression via the MGB axis. It synthesizes recent achievements in this field and evaluates the potential of microbiome-targeted therapies for depression treatment. Furthermore, it outlines future research directions to establish a theoretical framework for novel therapeutic approaches and to foster the development of this area.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1634548/fullgut microbiotaMGB axisdepressionmetabolismneurotransmittersneuroinflammation |
| spellingShingle | Xiangyan Zhou Xiangyan Zhou Sixing Wang Sixing Wang Xiaohui Wang Xinran Chen Pei Zhou Kai Ma Peng Zhang Mechanisms of the effect of gut microbes on depression through the microbiota-gut-brain axis Frontiers in Nutrition gut microbiota MGB axis depression metabolism neurotransmitters neuroinflammation |
| title | Mechanisms of the effect of gut microbes on depression through the microbiota-gut-brain axis |
| title_full | Mechanisms of the effect of gut microbes on depression through the microbiota-gut-brain axis |
| title_fullStr | Mechanisms of the effect of gut microbes on depression through the microbiota-gut-brain axis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mechanisms of the effect of gut microbes on depression through the microbiota-gut-brain axis |
| title_short | Mechanisms of the effect of gut microbes on depression through the microbiota-gut-brain axis |
| title_sort | mechanisms of the effect of gut microbes on depression through the microbiota gut brain axis |
| topic | gut microbiota MGB axis depression metabolism neurotransmitters neuroinflammation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1634548/full |
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