Research on the multilevel pathogenesis and cross-scale correlation networks of the microbiota-gut-brain axis in mediating central nervous system disorders
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The microbiome-gut-brain axis (MGBA) is a bidirectional communication network that contributes to organismal homeostasis through neural, endocrine, immune, and microbial metabolic signaling. The gut microbiota influences central nervous system (CNS) function through pathways involving the vagus nerve and circulation, with metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids and tryptophan derivatives regulating neurogenesis, barrier integrity, and immune responses. Conversely, the CNS modulates the intestinal environment through the autonomic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, thereby influencing gut barrier function and microbial composition. Disruption of this regulatory network may initiate a cascade of pathological changes, linking microbial metabolic alterations and cellular dysfunction to intestinal barrier impairment, systemic inflammation, blood-brain barrier disruption, and altered brain function. Such MGBA disturbances have been associated with CNS disorders. This review synthesizes five core communication mechanisms of the MGBA and examines how their interactions across molecular, cellular, tissue, organ, and systemic levels may contribute to CNS pathology. By framing CNS disorders as dynamic processes involving cross-scale network imbalance, this review provides an integrated perspective on MGBA-related disease mechanisms and highlights directions for targeted intervention.
Source: Frontiers in Immunology
Language: English
Topic: Gut microbiota and health
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W7225609501