Impaired gut barrier integrity and reduced colonic expression of free fatty acid receptors in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Background: Altered gut metabolites, especially short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), in feces and plasma are observed in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Objective: We aimed to investigate the colonic expression of two SCFA receptors, free fatty acid receptor (FFAR)2 and FFAR3, and gut barrier integrity in patients with PD and correlations with clinical severity.

Methods: In this retrospective study, colonic biopsy specimens were collected from 37 PD patients and 34 unaffected controls.