A review of traumatic brain injury and the gut microbiome: Insights into novel mechanisms of secondary brain injury and promising targets for neuroprotection

Caroline S. Zhu, Ramesh Grandhi, Thomas Tyler Patterson, Susannah E. Nicholson

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

81 Scopus citations

Abstract

The gut microbiome and its role in health and disease have recently been major focus areas of research. In this review, we summarize the different ways in which the gut microbiome interacts with the rest of the body, with focus areas on its relationships with immunity, the brain, and injury. The gut–brain axis, a communication network linking together the central and enteric nervous systems, represents a key bidirectional pathway with feed-forward and feedback mechanisms. The gut microbiota has a central role in this pathway and is significantly altered following injury, leading to a pro-inflammatory state within the central nervous system (CNS). Herein, we examine traumatic brain injury (TBI) in relation to this axis and explore potential interventions, which may serve as targets for improving clinical outcomes and preventing secondary brain injury.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number113
JournalBrain Sciences
Volume8
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 19 2018

Keywords

  • Brain-gut axis
  • Central nervous system (CNS)
  • Commensals
  • Enteric nervous system (ENS)
  • Gastrointestinal (GI)
  • Gut
  • Microbiome
  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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