Nervous system–gut microbiota–immune system axis: future directions for preventing tumor

Tumor is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The occurrence and development of tumors are related to multiple systems and factors such as the immune system, gut microbiota, and nervous system. The immune system plays a critical role in tumor development. Studies have also found that the gu...

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Main Authors: Juanjuan Wang, Wenyue Cheng, Rongcun Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1535955/full
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author Juanjuan Wang
Wenyue Cheng
Rongcun Yang
Rongcun Yang
Rongcun Yang
author_facet Juanjuan Wang
Wenyue Cheng
Rongcun Yang
Rongcun Yang
Rongcun Yang
author_sort Juanjuan Wang
collection DOAJ
description Tumor is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The occurrence and development of tumors are related to multiple systems and factors such as the immune system, gut microbiota, and nervous system. The immune system plays a critical role in tumor development. Studies have also found that the gut microbiota can directly or indirectly affect tumorigenesis and tumor development. With increasing attention on the tumor microenvironment in recent years, the nervous system has emerged as a novel regulator of tumor development. Some tumor therapies based on the nervous system have also been tested in clinical trials. However, the nervous system can not only directly interact with tumor cells but also indirectly affect tumor development through the gut microbiota. The nervous system-mediated gut microbiota can regulate tumorigenesis, growth, invasion, and metastasis through the immune system. Here, we mainly explore the potential effects of the nervous system–gut microbiota–immune system axis on tumorigenesis and tumor development. The effects of the nervous system–gut microbiota–immune system axis on tumors involve the nervous system regulating immune cells through the gut microbiota, which can prevent tumor development. Meanwhile, the direct effects of the gut microbiota on tumors and the regulation of the immune system by the nervous system, which can affect tumor development, are also reviewed.
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publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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spelling doaj-art-7c749edcde0e4080aaa5cd6c25f1a3722025-08-20T02:19:53ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-05-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.15359551535955Nervous system–gut microbiota–immune system axis: future directions for preventing tumorJuanjuan Wang0Wenyue Cheng1Rongcun Yang2Rongcun Yang3Rongcun Yang4Department of Immunology, Nankai University School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, ChinaDepartment of Immunology, Nankai University School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, ChinaDepartment of Immunology, Nankai University School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, ChinaTranslational Medicine Institute, Affiliated Tianjin Union Medical Center of Nankai University, Nankai University, Tianjin, ChinaTumor is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The occurrence and development of tumors are related to multiple systems and factors such as the immune system, gut microbiota, and nervous system. The immune system plays a critical role in tumor development. Studies have also found that the gut microbiota can directly or indirectly affect tumorigenesis and tumor development. With increasing attention on the tumor microenvironment in recent years, the nervous system has emerged as a novel regulator of tumor development. Some tumor therapies based on the nervous system have also been tested in clinical trials. However, the nervous system can not only directly interact with tumor cells but also indirectly affect tumor development through the gut microbiota. The nervous system-mediated gut microbiota can regulate tumorigenesis, growth, invasion, and metastasis through the immune system. Here, we mainly explore the potential effects of the nervous system–gut microbiota–immune system axis on tumorigenesis and tumor development. The effects of the nervous system–gut microbiota–immune system axis on tumors involve the nervous system regulating immune cells through the gut microbiota, which can prevent tumor development. Meanwhile, the direct effects of the gut microbiota on tumors and the regulation of the immune system by the nervous system, which can affect tumor development, are also reviewed.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1535955/fullnervous systemgut microbiotaimmune cellstumor environmentsignal transduction
spellingShingle Juanjuan Wang
Wenyue Cheng
Rongcun Yang
Rongcun Yang
Rongcun Yang
Nervous system–gut microbiota–immune system axis: future directions for preventing tumor
Frontiers in Immunology
nervous system
gut microbiota
immune cells
tumor environment
signal transduction
title Nervous system–gut microbiota–immune system axis: future directions for preventing tumor
title_full Nervous system–gut microbiota–immune system axis: future directions for preventing tumor
title_fullStr Nervous system–gut microbiota–immune system axis: future directions for preventing tumor
title_full_unstemmed Nervous system–gut microbiota–immune system axis: future directions for preventing tumor
title_short Nervous system–gut microbiota–immune system axis: future directions for preventing tumor
title_sort nervous system gut microbiota immune system axis future directions for preventing tumor
topic nervous system
gut microbiota
immune cells
tumor environment
signal transduction
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1535955/full
work_keys_str_mv AT juanjuanwang nervoussystemgutmicrobiotaimmunesystemaxisfuturedirectionsforpreventingtumor
AT wenyuecheng nervoussystemgutmicrobiotaimmunesystemaxisfuturedirectionsforpreventingtumor
AT rongcunyang nervoussystemgutmicrobiotaimmunesystemaxisfuturedirectionsforpreventingtumor
AT rongcunyang nervoussystemgutmicrobiotaimmunesystemaxisfuturedirectionsforpreventingtumor
AT rongcunyang nervoussystemgutmicrobiotaimmunesystemaxisfuturedirectionsforpreventingtumor