Mapping the Influence of the Gut Microbiota on Small Molecules across the Microbiome Gut Brain Axis.

J Am Soc Mass Spectrom

Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Sir Graeme Davies Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, United Kingdom.

Published: April 2022

AI Article Synopsis

  • Microbes influence interactions between the gut and brain through the production of neurotransmitters and immunomodulators, affecting overall health.
  • Researchers used mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) to analyze the molecular changes in the brains and guts of different groups of mice (germ-free, antibiotic-treated, and control).
  • They discovered significant changes in certain small molecules in the brains of germ-free mice, while antibiotic treatment did not lead to noticeable changes, highlighting MSI's potential for studying the microbiome-gut-brain communication.

Article Abstract

Microbes exert influence across the microbiome-gut-brain axis through neurotransmitter production, induction of host immunomodulators, or the release or induction of other microbial or host molecules. Here, we used mass spectrometry imaging (MSI), a label-free imaging tool, to map molecular changes in the gut and brain in germ-free, antibiotic-treated and control mice. We determined spatial distribution and relative quantification of neurotransmitters and their precursors in response to the microbiome. Using untargeted MSI, we detected a significant change in the levels of four identified small molecules in the brains of germ-free animals compared to controls. However, antibiotic treatment induced no significant changes in these same metabolites in the brain after 1 week of treatment. This work exemplifies the utility of MSI as a tool for the study of known and discovery of novel, mediators of microbiome-gut-brain axis communication.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9047441PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jasms.1c00298DOI Listing

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