Recent advance in interaction between intestinal flora and brain function / 中华神经医学杂志

ABSTRACT

The intestinal flora in the human intestinal tract plays an important role in regulating the intestinal function and maintaining the homeostasis of intestinal state. An increasing number of basic experimental studies have found that intestinal flora can communicate with brain through gut-brain axis (GBA). GBA refers to the neurohumoral network of two-way communication between the intestinal tract and the brain, including immunity, vagus nerve, endocrine, and neurotransmitter. In addition, a large number of studies have suggested that the disorder or absence of intestinal flora may lead to many central nervous system diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, autism spectrum disorder, and hepatic encephalopathy. This article reviews the research progress of the interaction between intestinal flora and brain function to provide theoretical support for further researches on intestinal flora and brain, as well as the treatment strategies of related central nervous system diseases.