Gut brain axis: an insight into microbiota role in Parkinson's disease

Citrobacter rodentium infection impairs dopamine metabolism and exacerbates the pathology of Parkinson's disease in mice

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder with indistinct etiology and ill-defined pathophysiology. Intestinal inflammation involved in the pathogenesis of PD, but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Citrobacter rodentium (C.R) is a gram-negative bacterium that can be used to induce human inflammatory bowel disease in mice. Here, we investigated whether the proinflammatory effects caused by C.R infection initiate PD-like injury and/or exacerbate PD pathology and extensively studied the underlying mechanism. Mice were gavaged once with C.R and monitored for several pathological features at 9 days post infection. The results showed that C.R delivery in mice induced IBD-like symptoms, including significant weight loss, increased fecal water content, an impaired intestinal barrier, intestinal hyperpermeability and inflammation, and intestinal microbiota disturbances. Notably, C.R infection modified dopamine (DA) metabolism in the brains of both male and female mice. Subsequently, a single high dose of MPTP or normal saline was administered at 6 days post infection. At 3 days after MPTP administration, the feces were collected for 16 S rRNA analysis, and PD-like phenotypes and mechanisms were systemically analyzed. Compared with C.R or MPTP injection alone, the injection of C.R and MPTP combined worsened behavioral performance. Moreover, such combination triggered more severe dopaminergic degeneration and glial cell overactivation in the nigrostriatal pathway of mice. Mechanistically, the combination of C.R and MPTP increased the expression of TLR4 and NF-κB p65 in the colon and striatum and upregulated proinflammatory cytokine expression. Therefore, C.R infection-induced intestinal inflammation can impair dopamine metabolism and exacerbate PD pathological processes.

The Interaction Between Nutraceuticals and Gut Microbiota: a Novel Therapeutic Approach to Prevent and Treatment Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons, leading to motor and non-motor symptoms. Emerging research has shed light on the role of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis and progression of PD. Nutraceuticals such as curcumin, berberine, phytoestrogens, polyphenols (e.g., resveratrol, EGCG, and fisetin), dietary fibers have been shown to influence gut microbiota composition and function, restoring microbial balance and enhancing the gut-brain axis. The mechanisms underlying these benefits involve microbial metabolite production, restoration of gut barrier integrity, and modulation of neuroinflammatory pathways. Additionally, probiotics and prebiotics have shown potential in promoting gut health, influencing the gut microbiome, and alleviating PD symptoms. They can enhance the gut's antioxidant capacity of the gut, reduce inflammation, and maintain immune homeostasis, contributing to a neuroprotective environment. This paper provides an overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the potential of nutraceuticals and gut microbiota modulation in the prevention and management of Parkinson's disease, emphasizing the need for further research and clinical trials to validate their effectiveness and safety. The findings suggest that a multifaceted approach involving nutraceuticals and gut microbiota may open new avenues for addressing the challenges of PD and improving the quality of life for affected individuals.

Astrocytic transcription factors REST, YY1, and putative microRNAs in Parkinson's disease and advanced therapeutic strategies

Transcription factors (TF) and microRNAs are regulatory factors in astrocytes and are linked to several Parkinson's disease (PD) progression causes, such as disruption of glutamine transporters in astrocytes and concomitant disrupted glutamine uptake and inflammation. REST, a crucial TF, has been documented as an epigenetic repressor that limits the expression of neuronal genes in non-neural cells. REST activity is significantly linked to its corepressors in astrocytes, specifically histone deacetylases (HDACs), CoREST, and MECP2. Another REST-regulating TF, YY1, has been studied in astrocytes, and its interaction with REST has been investigated. In this review, the molecular processes that support the astrocytic control of REST and YY1 in terms of the regulation of glutamate transporter EAAT2 were addressed in a more detailed and comprehensive manner. Both TFs' function in astrocytes and how astrocyte abnormalities cause PD is still a mystery. Moreover, microRNAs (short non-coding RNAs) are key regulators that have been correlated to the expression and regulation of numerous genes linked to PD. The identification of numerous miRs that are engaged in astrocyte dysfunction that triggers PD has been shown. The term "Gut-brain axis" refers to the two systems' mutual communication. Gut microbial dysbiosis, which mediates an imbalance of the gut-brain axis, might contribute to neurodegenerative illnesses through altered astrocytic regulation. New treatment approaches to modify the gut-brain axis and prevent astrocytic repercussions have also been investigated in this review.

Oral Administration of Lactobacillus Inhibits the Permeability of Blood-Brain and Gut Barriers in a Parkinsonism Model

It has recently been shown that the administration of probiotics can modulate the microbiota-gut-brain axis and may have favorable effects in models of Parkinson's disease. In this study, we used a hemiparkinsonism model induced by the neurotoxin 6-OHDA to evaluate the efficacy of the administration of a four-week administration of a mixture containing the microorganisms Lactobacillus fermentum LH01, Lactobacillus reuteri LH03, and Lactobacillus plantarum LH05. The hemiparkinsonism model induced an increase in rotations in the apomorphine test, along with a decrease in the latency time to fall in the rotarod test on days 14 and 21 after surgery, respectively. The administration of probiotics was sufficient to improve this condition. The model also showed a decrease in tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity in the striatum and the number of labeled cells in the substantia nigra, both of which were counteracted by the administration of probiotics. The permeability of the blood-brain barrier was increased in the model, but this effect was reversed by the probiotics for both brain regions. The gut barrier was permeated with the model, and this effect was reversed and dropped to lower levels than the control group after the administration of probiotics. Finally, lipid peroxidation showed a pattern of differences similar to that of permeabilities. The inhibition of the permeability of the blood-brain and gut barriers mediated by the administration of probiotics will likely provide protection by downregulating oxidative stress, thus affecting the rotarod test performance.

Targeted metabolomic analysis in Parkinson's disease brain frontal cortex and putamen with relation to cognitive impairment

We performed liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis with the targeted metabolomic kit Biocrates MxP Quant 500, in human brain cortex (Brodmann area 9) and putamen, to reveal metabolic changes characteristic of Parkinson's disease (PD) and PD-related cognitive decline. This case-control study involved 101 subjects (33 PD without dementia, 32 PD with dementia (cortex only), 36 controls). We found changes associated with PD, cognitive status, levodopa levels, and disease progression. The affected pathways include neurotransmitters, bile acids, homocysteine metabolism, amino acids, TCA cycle, polyamines, β-alanine metabolism, fatty acids, acylcarnitines, ceramides, phosphatidylcholines, and several microbiome-derived metabolites. Previously reported levodopa-related homocysteine accumulation in cortex still best explains the dementia status in PD, which can be modified by dietary supplementation. Further investigation is needed to reveal the exact mechanisms behind this pathological change.

An open label, non-randomized study assessing a prebiotic fiber intervention in a small cohort of Parkinson's disease participants

A pro-inflammatory intestinal microbiome is characteristic of Parkinson's disease (PD). Prebiotic fibers change the microbiome and this study sought to understand the utility of prebiotic fibers for use in PD patients. The first experiments demonstrate that fermentation of PD patient stool with prebiotic fibers increased the production of beneficial metabolites (short chain fatty acids, SCFA) and changed the microbiota demonstrating the capacity of PD microbiota to respond favorably to prebiotics. Subsequently, an open-label, non-randomized study was conducted in newly diagnosed, non-medicated (n = 10) and treated PD participants (n = 10) wherein the impact of 10 days of prebiotic intervention was evaluated. Outcomes demonstrate that the prebiotic intervention was well tolerated (primary outcome) and safe (secondary outcome) in PD participants and was associated with beneficial biological changes in the microbiota, SCFA, inflammation, and neurofilament light chain. Exploratory analyses indicate effects on clinically relevant outcomes. This proof-of-concept study offers the scientific rationale for placebo-controlled trials using prebiotic fibers in PD patients. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04512599.

Role of enteric glia and microbiota-gut-brain axis in parkinson disease pathogenesis

The microbiota-gut-brain axis or simple gut-brain axis (GBA) is a complex and interactive bidirectional communication network linking the gut to the brain. Alterations in the composition of the gut microbiome have been linked to GBA dysfunction, central nervous system (CNS) inflammation, and dopaminergic degeneration, as those occurring in Parkinson's disease (PD). Besides inflammation, the activation of brain microglia is known to play a central role in the damage of dopaminergic neurons. Inflammation is attributed to the toxic effect of aggregated α-synuclein, in the brain of PD patients. It has been suggested that the α-synuclein misfolding might begin in the gut and spread "prion-like", via the vagus nerve into the lower brainstem and ultimately to the midbrain, known as the Braak hypothesis. In this review, we discuss how the microbiota-gut-brain axis and environmental influences interact with the immune system to promote a pro-inflammatory state that is involved in the initiation and progression of misfolded α-synuclein proteins and the beginning of the early non-motor symptoms of PD. Furthermore, we describe a speculative bidirectional model that explains how the enteric glia is involved in the initiation and spreading of inflammation, epithelial barrier disruption, and α-synuclein misfolding, finally reaching the central nervous system and contributing to neuroinflammatory processes involved with the initial non-motor symptoms of PD.

The Immune System as a Therapeutic Target for Old and New Drugs in Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease characterized by loss of dopaminergic neurons and intraneuronal accumulation of protein aggregates. The exact mechanisms leading to neuronal death in PD are not fully understood, but several different molecular pathways are involved, leading to the concept that molecular subtypes may coexist in the nosological spectrum of PD. To this respect, immune system activation, both in the periphery and inside the central nervous system, was detected as a common trait of several pathogenic pathways of PD. The current working hypothesis implies that immune cells shift towards a proinflammatory phenotype and trigger the production of neurotoxic cytokines, ultimately contributing to neurodegeneration. While it is very important to understand how commonly used antiparkinson drugs interact with such changes, the search for treatments that may directly or indirectly modulate immune function is a great opportunity for disease modification.

Co-administration of Nanowired DL-3-n-Butylphthalide (DL-NBP) Together with Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Monoclonal Antibodies to Alpha Synuclein and TDP-43 (TAR DNA-Binding Protein 43) Enhance Superior Neuroprotection in Parkinson's Disease Following Concussive Head Injury

dl-3-n-butylphthalide (dl-NBP) is one of the potent antioxidant compounds that induces profound neuroprotection in stroke and traumatic brain injury. Our previous studies show that dl-NBP reduces brain pathology in Parkinson's disease (PD) following its nanowired delivery together with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exacerbated by concussive head injury (CHI). CHI alone elevates alpha synuclein (ASNC) in brain or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) associated with elevated TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43). TDP-43 protein is also responsible for the pathologies of PD. Thus, it is likely that exacerbation of brain pathology in PD following brain injury may be thwarted using nanowired delivery of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to ASNC and/or TDP-43. In this review, the co-administration of dl-NBP with MSCs and mAb to ASNC and/or TDP-43 using nanowired delivery in PD and CHI-induced brain pathology is discussed based on our own investigations. Our observations show that co-administration of TiO2 nanowired dl-NBP with MSCs and mAb to ASNC with TDP-43 induced superior neuroprotection in CHI induced exacerbation of brain pathology in PD, not reported earlier.

The pathobiological basis of depression in Parkinson disease: challenges and outlooks

Depression, with an estimated prevalence of about 40% is a most common neuropsychiatric disorder in Parkinson disease (PD), with a negative impact on quality of life, cognitive impairment and functional disability, yet the underlying neurobiology is poorly understood. Depression in PD (DPD), one of its most common non-motor symptoms, can precede the onset of motor symptoms but can occur at any stage of the disease. Although its diagnosis is based on standard criteria, due to overlap with other symptoms related to PD or to side effects of treatment, depression is frequently underdiagnosed and undertreated. DPD has been related to a variety of pathogenic mechanisms associated with the underlying neurodegenerative process, in particular dysfunction of neurotransmitter systems (dopaminergic, serotonergic and noradrenergic), as well as to disturbances of cortico-limbic, striato-thalamic-prefrontal, mediotemporal-limbic networks, with disruption in the topological organization of functional mood-related, motor and other essential brain network connections due to alterations in the blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) fluctuations in multiple brain areas. Other hypothetic mechanisms involve neuroinflammation, neuroimmune dysregulation, stress hormones, neurotrophic, toxic or metabolic factors. The pathophysiology and pathogenesis of DPD are multifactorial and complex, and its interactions with genetic factors, age-related changes, cognitive disposition and other co-morbidities awaits further elucidation.

Gut microbiota relieves inflammation in the substantia nigra of chronic Parkinson's disease by protecting the function of dopamine neurons

The composition of the intestinal flora of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) can change. However, whether reshaping the gut microbial composition can treat PD remains to be seen. The present study evaluated the effect of intestinal flora in the treatment of PD in a C57BL/6 mouse PD model induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). Chronic, low-dose, MPTP-treated mice exhibited upregulated gene expression levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in the substantia nigra (SN) of the mice, and induced intestinal microbial disorders. This indicated that the chronic low-dose MPTP model could be used to evaluate the progress of early intestinal pathology and intestinal flora imbalance in PD. After transplantation of faecal bacteria to MPTP-induced PD mice, the level of inflammation in the SN of the mice was reduced, and motor dysfunction was alleviated. Notably, faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) upregulated the abundance of Blautia but downregulated Anaerostipes, Bifidobacterium, ASF356 and Ruminococcus in the gut of PD mice. In addition, FMT reduced the activation of microglia and astrocytes in the SN and reduced the expression levels of GSK3β, IL-1β, inducible nitric oxide synthase and phosphorylated PTEN in the SN. Overall, the present study demonstrated that gut microbial dysfunction is associated with the pathogenesis of PD, and that FMT can protect PD mice by inhibiting neuroinflammation.