Chitosan alleviates symptoms of Parkinson’s disease by reducing acetate levels, which decreases inflammation and promotes repair of the intestinal barrier and blood–brain barrier

Chitosan alleviates symptoms of Parkinson’s disease by reducing acetate levels, which decreases inflammation and promotes repair of the intestinal barrier and blood–brain barrier

Studies have shown that chitosan protects against neurodegenerative diseases. However, the precise mechanism remains poorly understood. In this study, we administered chitosan intragastrically to an MPTP-induced mouse model of Parkinson’s disease and found that it effectively reduced dopamine neuron...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yinying Wang, Rongsha Chen, Guolin Shi, Xinwei Huang, Ke Li, Ruohua Wang, Xia Cao, Zhongshan Yang, Ninghui Zhao, Jinyuan Yan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2026-01-01
Series:Neural Regeneration Research
Subjects:
acetate
adenosine 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase
blood–brain barrier
chitosan
dopamine neurons
inflammation
intestinal barrier
parkinson’s disease
peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta
short-chain fatty acids
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/NRR.NRR-D-23-01511
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Summary:Studies have shown that chitosan protects against neurodegenerative diseases. However, the precise mechanism remains poorly understood. In this study, we administered chitosan intragastrically to an MPTP-induced mouse model of Parkinson’s disease and found that it effectively reduced dopamine neuron injury, neurotransmitter dopamine release, and motor symptoms. These neuroprotective effects of chitosan were related to bacterial metabolites, specifically short-chain fatty acids, and chitosan administration altered intestinal microbial diversity and decreased short-chain fatty acid production in the gut. Furthermore, chitosan effectively reduced damage to the intestinal barrier and the blood–brain barrier. Finally, we demonstrated that chitosan improved intestinal barrier function and alleviated inflammation in both the peripheral nervous system and the central nervous system by reducing acetate levels. Based on these findings, we suggest a molecular mechanism by which chitosan decreases inflammation through reducing acetate levels and repairing the intestinal and blood–brain barriers, thereby alleviating symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
ISSN:1673-5374
1876-7958

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