Gut microbiota and sepsis-associated encephalopathy: pathogenesis and precision therapies
Sepsis is defined as a condition of immune dysregulation in response to an infection, and sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is often the initial symptom that manifests in patients with sepsis. This condition is characterized by its high mortality rates and the potential to cause significant dis...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2025.1596467/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850085911343136768 |
|---|---|
| author | Na Wei Na Wei Shiyu Dai Shiyu Dai Wei Li Wei Li Wei Li Jun Zhou Jun Zhou Ye Chen Ye Chen |
| author_facet | Na Wei Na Wei Shiyu Dai Shiyu Dai Wei Li Wei Li Wei Li Jun Zhou Jun Zhou Ye Chen Ye Chen |
| author_sort | Na Wei |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sepsis is defined as a condition of immune dysregulation in response to an infection, and sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is often the initial symptom that manifests in patients with sepsis. This condition is characterized by its high mortality rates and the potential to cause significant disability among survivors. Despite its severity, the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms that contribute to the development of SAE are not yet fully understood. Additionally, there are no established strict diagnostic criteria or potent treatment options available for this condition. However, an increasing body of evidence suggests that an imbalance in the gut microbiota is associated with SAE, potentially through the gut-brain axis (GBA). The GBA axis refers to the bidirectional communication between the gut microbiota and the central nervous system. In this review, we discuss the changes in the gut microbiota in SAE and the mechanisms of the GBA axis, involving neural, immune, endocrine, and neurotransmitter pathways. Finally, we conclude by evaluating the preclinical and clinical evidence for fecal microbiota transplantation and probiotics in SAE. Targeting the GBA axis will be an actionable target to ameliorate the development and progression of SAE. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5a75a858e8bc420fa86de2a1170fec55 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1662-453X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj-art-5a75a858e8bc420fa86de2a1170fec552025-08-20T02:43:36ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neuroscience1662-453X2025-07-011910.3389/fnins.2025.15964671596467Gut microbiota and sepsis-associated encephalopathy: pathogenesis and precision therapiesNa Wei0Na Wei1Shiyu Dai2Shiyu Dai3Wei Li4Wei Li5Wei Li6Jun Zhou7Jun Zhou8Ye Chen9Ye Chen10Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, ChinaAnesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine Key Laboratory of Luzhou, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, ChinaAnesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine Key Laboratory of Luzhou, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, ChinaAnesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine Key Laboratory of Luzhou, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Anesthesiology, Hejiang County People’s Hospital, Luzhou, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, ChinaAnesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine Key Laboratory of Luzhou, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, ChinaAnesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine Key Laboratory of Luzhou, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, ChinaSepsis is defined as a condition of immune dysregulation in response to an infection, and sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is often the initial symptom that manifests in patients with sepsis. This condition is characterized by its high mortality rates and the potential to cause significant disability among survivors. Despite its severity, the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms that contribute to the development of SAE are not yet fully understood. Additionally, there are no established strict diagnostic criteria or potent treatment options available for this condition. However, an increasing body of evidence suggests that an imbalance in the gut microbiota is associated with SAE, potentially through the gut-brain axis (GBA). The GBA axis refers to the bidirectional communication between the gut microbiota and the central nervous system. In this review, we discuss the changes in the gut microbiota in SAE and the mechanisms of the GBA axis, involving neural, immune, endocrine, and neurotransmitter pathways. Finally, we conclude by evaluating the preclinical and clinical evidence for fecal microbiota transplantation and probiotics in SAE. Targeting the GBA axis will be an actionable target to ameliorate the development and progression of SAE.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2025.1596467/fullsepsis-associated encephalopathysepsisgut microbiotafecal microbiota transplantationprobiotics |
| spellingShingle | Na Wei Na Wei Shiyu Dai Shiyu Dai Wei Li Wei Li Wei Li Jun Zhou Jun Zhou Ye Chen Ye Chen Gut microbiota and sepsis-associated encephalopathy: pathogenesis and precision therapies Frontiers in Neuroscience sepsis-associated encephalopathy sepsis gut microbiota fecal microbiota transplantation probiotics |
| title | Gut microbiota and sepsis-associated encephalopathy: pathogenesis and precision therapies |
| title_full | Gut microbiota and sepsis-associated encephalopathy: pathogenesis and precision therapies |
| title_fullStr | Gut microbiota and sepsis-associated encephalopathy: pathogenesis and precision therapies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gut microbiota and sepsis-associated encephalopathy: pathogenesis and precision therapies |
| title_short | Gut microbiota and sepsis-associated encephalopathy: pathogenesis and precision therapies |
| title_sort | gut microbiota and sepsis associated encephalopathy pathogenesis and precision therapies |
| topic | sepsis-associated encephalopathy sepsis gut microbiota fecal microbiota transplantation probiotics |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2025.1596467/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nawei gutmicrobiotaandsepsisassociatedencephalopathypathogenesisandprecisiontherapies AT nawei gutmicrobiotaandsepsisassociatedencephalopathypathogenesisandprecisiontherapies AT shiyudai gutmicrobiotaandsepsisassociatedencephalopathypathogenesisandprecisiontherapies AT shiyudai gutmicrobiotaandsepsisassociatedencephalopathypathogenesisandprecisiontherapies AT weili gutmicrobiotaandsepsisassociatedencephalopathypathogenesisandprecisiontherapies AT weili gutmicrobiotaandsepsisassociatedencephalopathypathogenesisandprecisiontherapies AT weili gutmicrobiotaandsepsisassociatedencephalopathypathogenesisandprecisiontherapies AT junzhou gutmicrobiotaandsepsisassociatedencephalopathypathogenesisandprecisiontherapies AT junzhou gutmicrobiotaandsepsisassociatedencephalopathypathogenesisandprecisiontherapies AT yechen gutmicrobiotaandsepsisassociatedencephalopathypathogenesisandprecisiontherapies AT yechen gutmicrobiotaandsepsisassociatedencephalopathypathogenesisandprecisiontherapies |