Journal Article Review Epublish 25 citations
PubMed: 38791415 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105377
Gut-Brain Axis: Focus on Sex Differences in Neuroinflammation.
Int J Mol Sci 25(10)
Authors: Mario Caldarelli, Pierluigi Rio, Andrea Marrone, Francesca Ocarino, Monica Chiantore, Marcello Candelli, Antonio Gasbarrini, Giovanni Gambassi, Rossella Cianci
Affiliations
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of Rome, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy.
- Department of Emergency, Anesthesiological and Reanimation Sciences, Catholic University of Rome, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy.
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the concept of the "gut-brain axis". In addition to well-studied diseases associated with an imbalance in gut microbiota, such as cancer, chronic inflammation, and cardiovascular diseases, research is now exploring the potential role of gut microbial dysbiosis in the onset and development of brain-related diseases. When the function of the intestinal barrier is altered by dysbiosis, the aberrant immune system response interacts with the nervous system, leading to a state of "neuroinflammation". The gut microbiota-brain axis is mediated by inflammatory and immunological mechanisms, neurotransmitters, and neuroendocrine pathways. This narrative review aims to illustrate the molecular basis of neuroinflammation and elaborate on the concept of the gut-brain axis by virtue of analyzing the various metabolites produced by the gut microbiome and how they might impact the nervous system. Additionally, the current review will highlight how sex influences these molecular mechanisms. In fact, sex hormones impact the brain-gut microbiota axis at different levels, such as the central nervous system, the enteric nervous one, and enteroendocrine cells. A deeper understanding of the gut-brain axis in human health and disease is crucial to guide diagnoses, treatments, and preventive interventions.
MeSH
Dysbiosis, Brain, Sex Characteristics, Sex, Nervous System, Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Microbiota, Sex Differences
Cited by
- Neuroinflammation: Mechanisms, Dual Roles, and Therapeutic Strategies in Neurological Disorders. Curr Issues Mol Biol, 2025
- Exploring the Efficacy and Safety of Nutritional Supplements in Alzheimer's Disease. Nutrients, 2025
- The microbiota-gut-brain axis and central nervous system diseases: from mechanisms of pathogenesis to therapeutic strategies. Front Microbiol, 2025
- Gut microbiome's causal role in head and neck cancer: findings from mendelian randomization. Front Oncol, 2024
- Association of Mediterranean, high-quality, and anti-inflammatory diet with dementia in UK Biobank cohort. J Nutr Health Aging, 2025
- A review on recent advances in Alzheimer's disease: The role of synaptic plasticity. AIMS Neurosci, 2025