The function of gut microbiota in immune-related neurological disorders: a review

Abstract

This review provides an overview of the importance of microbiota in the regulation of gut-brain communication in immune-related neurological disorders. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract hosts a diverse abundance of microbiota, referred to as gut microbiota. The gut microbiota plays a role in the maintenance of GI tract homeostasis and is likely to have multiple effects on brain development and function. The bidirectional communication between the gut microbiota and the brain is termed the microbiota-gut-brain axis. This communication between the intestine and the brain appears to affect human health and behavior, as certain animal studies have demonstrated the association between alterations in the gut microbiota and neurological disorders. Most insights about the microbiota-gut-brain axis come from germ-free animal models, which reveal the importance of gut microbiota in neural function. To date, many studies have observed the impact of the gut microbiota in patients with neurological disorders. Although many studies have investigated the microbiota-gut-brain axis, there are still limitations in translating this research to humans given the complexities of the relationship between the gut microbiota and the brain. In this review, we discuss emerging evidence of how the microbiota-gut-brain axis regulates brain development and function through biological networks, as well as the possible contribution of the microbiota-gut-brain axis in immune-related neurological disorders.