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Collins JM, Keane JM, Deady C, Khashan AS, McCarthy FP, O'Keeffe GW, Clarke G, Cryan JF, Caputi V, O'Mahony SM. Prenatal stress impacts foetal neurodevelopment: Temporal windows of gestational vulnerability. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 164:105793. [PMID: 38971516 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
Prenatal maternal stressors ranging in severity from everyday occurrences/hassles to the experience of traumatic events negatively impact neurodevelopment, increasing the risk for the onset of psychopathology in the offspring. Notably, the timing of prenatal stress exposure plays a critical role in determining the nature and severity of subsequent neurodevelopmental outcomes. In this review, we evaluate the empirical evidence regarding temporal windows of heightened vulnerability to prenatal stress with respect to motor, cognitive, language, and behavioural development in both human and animal studies. We also explore potential temporal windows whereby several mechanisms may mediate prenatal stress-induced neurodevelopmental effects, namely, excessive hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity, altered serotonin signalling and sympathetic-adrenal-medullary system, changes in placental function, immune system dysregulation, and alterations of the gut microbiota. While broadly defined developmental windows are apparent for specific psychopathological outcomes, inconsistencies arise when more complex cognitive and behavioural outcomes are considered. Novel approaches to track molecular markers reflective of the underlying aetiologies throughout gestation to identify tractable biomolecular signatures corresponding to critical vulnerability periods are urgently required.
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Affiliation(s)
- James M Collins
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
| | - James M Keane
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Clara Deady
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Ali S Khashan
- School of Public Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; The Irish Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research (INFANT), Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Fergus P McCarthy
- The Irish Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research (INFANT), Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork, Ireland; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Gerard W O'Keeffe
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; The Irish Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research (INFANT), Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Gerard Clarke
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; The Irish Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research (INFANT), Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork, Ireland; Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
| | - John F Cryan
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Valentina Caputi
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
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Vasileva S, Yap CX, Whitehouse AJ, Gratten J, Eyles D. Absence of association between maternal adverse events and long-term gut microbiome outcomes in the Australian autism biobank. Brain Behav Immun Health 2024; 39:100814. [PMID: 39027090 PMCID: PMC11254947 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Maternal immune activation (MIA) and prenatal maternal stress (MatS) are well-studied risk factors for psychiatric conditions such as autism and schizophrenia. Animal studies have proposed the gut microbiome as a mechanism underlying this association and have found that risk factor-related gut microbiome alterations persist in the adult offspring. In this cross-sectional study, we assessed whether maternal immune activation and prenatal maternal stress were associated with long-term gut microbiome alterations in children using shotgun metagenomics. Methods This cross-sectional study included children diagnosed with autism (N = 92), siblings without a diagnosis (N = 42), and unrelated children (N = 40) without a diagnosis who were recruited into the Australian Autism Biobank and provided a faecal sample. MIA exposure was inferred from self-reported data and included asthma/allergies, complications during pregnancy triggering an immune response, auto-immune conditions, and acute inflammation. Maternal stress included any of up to 9 stressful life events during pregnancy, such as divorce, job loss, and money problems. Data were analysed for a total of 174 children, of whom 63 (36%) were born to mothers with MIA and 84 (48%) were born to mothers who experienced maternal stress during pregnancy (where 33 [19%] experienced both). Gut microbiome data was assessed using shotgun metagenomic sequencing of the children's faecal samples. Results In our cohort, MIA, but not MatS, was associated with ASD. Variance component analysis revealed no associations between any of the gut microbiome datasets and neither MIA nor MatS. After adjusting for age, sex, diet and autism diagnosis, there was no significant difference between groups for bacterial richness, α-diversity or β-diversity. We found no significant differences in species abundance in the main analyses. However, when stratifying the cohort by age, we found that Faecalibacterium prausnitzii E was significantly decreased in MIA children aged 11-17. Discussion Consistent with previous findings, we found that children who were born to mothers with MIA were more likely to be diagnosed with autism. Unlike within animal studies, we found negligible microbiome differences associated with MIA and maternal stress. Given the current interest in the microbiome-gut-brain axis, researchers should exercise caution in translating microbiome findings from animal models to human contexts and the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlina Vasileva
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Chloe X. Yap
- Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Long Pocket, Brisbane, Australia
| | | | - Jacob Gratten
- Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Long Pocket, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Darryl Eyles
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Wacol, Australia
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3
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Beurel E, Nemeroff CB. Early Life Adversity, Microbiome, and Inflammatory Responses. Biomolecules 2024; 14:802. [PMID: 39062516 PMCID: PMC11275239 DOI: 10.3390/biom14070802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Early life adversity has a profound impact on physical and mental health. Because the central nervous and immune systems are not fully mature at birth and continue to mature during the postnatal period, a bidirectional interaction between the central nervous system and the immune system has been hypothesized, with traumatic stressors during childhood being pivotal in priming individuals for later adult psychopathology. Similarly, the microbiome, which regulates both neurodevelopment and immune function, also matures during childhood, rendering this interaction between the brain and the immune system even more complex. In this review, we provide evidence for the role of the immune response and the microbiome in the deleterious effects of early life adversity, both in humans and rodent models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eléonore Beurel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Charles B. Nemeroff
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Mulva Clinic for Neurosciences, University of Texas (UT) Dell Medical School, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Mulva Clinic for Neurosciences, UT Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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Bisle E, Varadarajan S, Kolassa IT. Vitamin-mediated interaction between the gut microbiome and mitochondria in depression: A systematic review-based integrated perspective. Brain Behav Immun Health 2024; 38:100790. [PMID: 38974216 PMCID: PMC11225645 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Depression is one of the world's most prevalent mental disorders and its treatment remains suboptimal. Depression is a systemic disease with highly complex biological mechanisms. Emerging evidence points towards the involvement of mitochondria, microbiome and vitamins in its pathophysiology. Mitochondrial energy production was shown to be lowered in patients with depression. Mitochondrial energy production depends on vitamins, which are available from food, but are also synthesized by the gut microbiota. Several studies reported altered vitamin levels as well as changes in the gut microbiome composition and its vitamin metabolism in patients with depression. Therefore, the question of a connection between mitochondria and gut microbiome and vitamins influencing the mental health arises. This review aims to systematically investigate a combination of the topics - depression, mitochondria, microbiome, and vitamins - to generate an overview of a novel yet extremely complex and interconnected research field. A systematic literature search yielded 34 articles, and the results were summarized and bundled to develop this new integrative perspective on mitochondrial function mediated by the microbiome and microbiome-derived vitamins in depression. Furthermore, by discussing the research gaps this review aims to encourage innovative research approaches to better understand the biology of depression, which could result in optimized therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Bisle
- Department of Clinical & Biological Psychology, Institute of Psychology & Education, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 47, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Suchithra Varadarajan
- Department of Clinical & Biological Psychology, Institute of Psychology & Education, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 47, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Iris-Tatjana Kolassa
- Department of Clinical & Biological Psychology, Institute of Psychology & Education, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 47, 89081, Ulm, Germany
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Borrego-Ruiz A, Borrego JJ. Neurodevelopmental Disorders Associated with Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis in Children. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 11:796. [PMID: 39062245 PMCID: PMC11275248 DOI: 10.3390/children11070796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
The formation of the human gut microbiome initiates in utero, and its maturation is established during the first 2-3 years of life. Numerous factors alter the composition of the gut microbiome and its functions, including mode of delivery, early onset of breastfeeding, exposure to antibiotics and chemicals, and maternal stress, among others. The gut microbiome-brain axis refers to the interconnection of biological networks that allow bidirectional communication between the gut microbiome and the brain, involving the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. Evidence suggests that the gut microbiome and its metabolic byproducts are actively implicated in the regulation of the early brain development. Any disturbance during this stage may adversely affect brain functions, resulting in a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). In the present study, we reviewed recent evidence regarding the impact of the gut microbiome on early brain development, alongside its correlation with significant NDDs, such as autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Tourette syndrome, cerebral palsy, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, and genetic NDDs (Rett, Down, Angelman, and Turner syndromes). Understanding changes in the gut microbiome in NDDs may provide new chances for their treatment in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Borrego-Ruiz
- Departamento de Psicología Social y de las Organizaciones, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Juan J. Borrego
- Departamento de Microbiología, Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga y Plataforma en Nanomedicina-IBIMA, Plataforma BIONAND, 29010 Málaga, Spain
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6
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Song X, Wang Z, Xia Y, Chen Z, Wang G, Yang Y, Zhu B, Ai L, Xu H, Wang C. A Cross Talking between the Gut Microbiota and Metabolites of Participants in a Confined Environment. Nutrients 2024; 16:1761. [PMID: 38892694 PMCID: PMC11175105 DOI: 10.3390/nu16111761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2024] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Certain workplaces, like deep-sea voyages, subject workers to chronic psychological stress and circadian rhythm disorders due to confined environments and frequent shifts. In this study, participants lived in a strictly controlled confined environment, and we analyzed the effects of a confined environment on gut microbiota and metabolites. The results showed that living in confined environments can significantly alter both the gut microbiota and the gut metabolome, particularly affecting lipid metabolism pathways like glycerophospholipid metabolism. There was a significant reduction in the abundance of Faecalibacterium and Bacteroides, while Blautia, Bifidobacterium, and Collinsella showed significant increases. An association analysis revealed a strong correlation between changes in the gut microbiota and the metabolome. Four upregulated lipid metabolites may serve as biomarkers for damage induced by confined environments, and certain gut microbiota alterations, such as those involving Faecalibacterium and Bacteroides, could be potential psychobiotics or therapeutic targets for enhancing mental health in a confined environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Song
- School of Health Science and Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Food Microbiology, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China; (X.S.); (Y.X.); (G.W.); (Y.Y.); (L.A.)
| | - Ziying Wang
- Naval Medical Center, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China;
| | - Yongjun Xia
- School of Health Science and Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Food Microbiology, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China; (X.S.); (Y.X.); (G.W.); (Y.Y.); (L.A.)
| | - Zheng Chen
- School of Food Science and Technology, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China; (Z.C.); (B.Z.)
| | - Guangqiang Wang
- School of Health Science and Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Food Microbiology, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China; (X.S.); (Y.X.); (G.W.); (Y.Y.); (L.A.)
| | - Yijin Yang
- School of Health Science and Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Food Microbiology, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China; (X.S.); (Y.X.); (G.W.); (Y.Y.); (L.A.)
| | - Beiwei Zhu
- School of Food Science and Technology, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China; (Z.C.); (B.Z.)
| | - Lianzhong Ai
- School of Health Science and Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Food Microbiology, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China; (X.S.); (Y.X.); (G.W.); (Y.Y.); (L.A.)
| | - Haodan Xu
- Naval Medical Center, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China;
| | - Chuan Wang
- Naval Medical Center, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China;
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Warren M, O'Connor C, Lee JE, Burton J, Walton D, Keathley J, Wammes M, Osuch E. Predispose, precipitate, perpetuate, and protect: how diet and the gut influence mental health in emerging adulthood. Front Nutr 2024; 11:1339269. [PMID: 38505265 PMCID: PMC10948435 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1339269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Medicine often employs the 4Ps of predisposing, precipitating, perpetuating, and protective factors to identify salient influences on illness states, and to help guide patient care. Mental illness is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Mental health is a complex combination of biological, psychological, environmental, and social factors. There is growing interest in the gut-brain-microbiome (GBM) axis and its impact on mental health. We use the medical model of the 4Ps to explore factors involving the connection between nutrition and the GBM axis and their associated risks with mental health problems in emerging adults (EAs), a life stage when mental illness onset is the most common. We review the impact of current dietary trends on the GBM and on mental health, and the role that gut microbiome-based interventions can have in modulating the GBM axis of EAs. We discuss the implications of gut health on the GBM and areas for clinical intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Warren
- Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Colleen O'Connor
- School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Brescia University College, London, ON, Canada
| | - Ju Eun Lee
- Geriatrics, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jeremy Burton
- Department of Surgery, Microbiology and Immunology, Lawson Health Research Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - David Walton
- School of Physical Therapy, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Justine Keathley
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Michael Wammes
- Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Osuch
- Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- London Health Sciences Centre, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
- First Episode Mood and Anxiety Program, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, Canada
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8
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Jung M. Overcoming Maternal Worries: A Journey to Prevent Infants From Food Allergies by Enhancing Dietary Variety and Boosting Gut Health. ALLERGY, ASTHMA & IMMUNOLOGY RESEARCH 2024; 16:126-129. [PMID: 38528380 DOI: 10.4168/aair.2024.16.2.126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Minyoung Jung
- Department of Pediatrics, Kosin University Gospel Hospital, Kosin University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
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9
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Kimmel MC, Verosky B, Chen HJ, Davis O, Gur TL. The Maternal Microbiome as a Map to Understanding the Impact of Prenatal Stress on Offspring Psychiatric Health. Biol Psychiatry 2024; 95:300-309. [PMID: 38042328 PMCID: PMC10884954 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
Stress and psychiatric disorders have been independently associated with disruption of the maternal and offspring microbiome and with increased risk of the offspring developing psychiatric disorders, both in clinical studies and in preclinical studies. However, the role of the microbiome in mediating the effect of prenatal stress on offspring behavior is unclear. While preclinical studies have identified several key mechanisms, clinical studies focusing on mechanisms are limited. In this review, we discuss 3 specific mechanisms by which the microbiome could mediate the effects of prenatal stress: 1) altered production of short-chain fatty acids; 2) disruptions in TH17 (T helper 17) cell differentiation, leading to maternal and fetal immune activation; and 3) perturbation of intestinal and microbial tryptophan metabolism and serotonergic signaling. Finally, we review the existing clinical literature focusing on these mechanisms and highlight the need for additional mechanistic clinical research to better understand the role of the microbiome in the context of prenatal stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary C Kimmel
- University of North Carolina School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
| | - Branden Verosky
- Ohio State University College of Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Helen J Chen
- Ohio State University College of Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Olivia Davis
- University of North Carolina School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Tamar L Gur
- Ohio State University College of Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
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10
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Deflorin N, Ehlert U, Amiel Castro RT. Associations of maternal prenatal psychological symptoms and saliva cortisol with neonatal meconium microbiota: A cross-sectional study. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 129:110895. [PMID: 37951341 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
Alterations in the diversity and relative abundances of the gut microbiome have been associated with a broad spectrum of medical conditions. Maternal psychological symptoms during pregnancy may impact on offspring development by altering the maternal and the foetal gut microbiome. We aimed to investigate whether self-reported maternal anxiety, depressive symptoms, and distress as well as saliva cortisol levels in late pregnancy alter the bacterial composition of the infant's meconium. METHODS A total of N = 100 mother-infant pairs were included. Maternal psychological symptoms were measured using psychological questionnaires (EPDS, PSS-10, STAI) at 34-36 weeks gestation and salivary cortisol was measured at 34-36 and 38 weeks gestation. Infant meconium samples were collected in the first five days postpartum and analysed using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. RESULTS Correlations showed that lower alpha diversity of the meconium microbiome was significantly associated with increased maternal prenatal depressive symptoms in late gestation (τ = -0.15, p = .04). Increased saliva cortisol AUCg at T2 was significantly related to higher beta diversity of the meconium samples (Pr(>F) = 0.003*). Pseudomonas was the most abundant phylum and was associated with maternal saliva cortisol total decline. No other associations were found. CONCLUSIONS Maternal prenatal depressive symptoms are associated with infant faecal microbiome alpha diversity, whereas maternal saliva cortisol AUCg is linked to increased beta diversity and total decline related to increased Psuedomonas. Future studies are warranted to understand how these microbiota community alterations are linked to child health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Deflorin
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ulrike Ehlert
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Rita T Amiel Castro
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
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11
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Neely WJ, Martins RA, Mendonça da Silva CM, Ferreira da Silva T, Fleck LE, Whetstone RD, Woodhams DC, Cook WH, Prist PR, Valiati VH, Greenspan SE, Tozetti AM, Earley RL, Becker CG. Linking microbiome and stress hormone responses in wild tropical treefrogs across continuous and fragmented forests. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1261. [PMID: 38087051 PMCID: PMC10716138 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05600-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The amphibian skin microbiome is an important component of anti-pathogen defense, but the impact of environmental change on the link between microbiome composition and host stress remains unclear. In this study, we used radiotelemetry and host translocation to track microbiome composition and function, pathogen infection, and host stress over time across natural movement paths for the forest-associated treefrog, Boana faber. We found a negative correlation between cortisol levels and putative microbiome function for frogs translocated to forest fragments, indicating strong integration of host stress response and anti-pathogen potential of the microbiome. Additionally, we observed a capacity for resilience (resistance to structural change and functional loss) in the amphibian skin microbiome, with maintenance of putative pathogen-inhibitory function despite major temporal shifts in microbiome composition. Although microbiome community composition did not return to baseline during the study period, the rate of microbiome change indicated that forest fragmentation had more pronounced effects on microbiome composition than translocation alone. Our findings reveal associations between stress hormones and host microbiome defenses, with implications for resilience of amphibians and their associated microbes facing accelerated tropical deforestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wesley J Neely
- Department of Biology, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA.
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA.
| | - Renato A Martins
- Department of Biology, and Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, One Health Microbiome Center, The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Camila M Mendonça da Silva
- Programa de Pos‑Graduacão em Biologia, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, São Leopoldo, RS, 93022‑750, Brazil
| | - Tainá Ferreira da Silva
- Programa de Pos‑Graduacão em Biologia, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, São Leopoldo, RS, 93022‑750, Brazil
| | - Lucas E Fleck
- Programa de Pos‑Graduacão em Biologia, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, São Leopoldo, RS, 93022‑750, Brazil
| | - Ross D Whetstone
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, 02125, USA
| | - Douglas C Woodhams
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, 02125, USA
| | - W Harrison Cook
- Department of Biology, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA
| | - Paula R Prist
- EcoHealth Alliance, 520 Eight Avenue, Suite 1200, New York, NY, 10018, USA
| | - Victor H Valiati
- Programa de Pos‑Graduacão em Biologia, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, São Leopoldo, RS, 93022‑750, Brazil
| | - Sasha E Greenspan
- Department of Biology, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA
| | - Alexandro M Tozetti
- Programa de Pos‑Graduacão em Biologia, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, São Leopoldo, RS, 93022‑750, Brazil
| | - Ryan L Earley
- Department of Biology, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA
| | - C Guilherme Becker
- Department of Biology, and Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, One Health Microbiome Center, The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
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12
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Weiss SJ, Hamidi M. Maternal stress during the third trimester of pregnancy and the neonatal microbiome. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2023; 36:2214835. [PMID: 37217447 PMCID: PMC11062404 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2023.2214835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Preliminary research suggests that maternal prenatal stress may alter the development of the fetal microbiome and resulting microbial composition after birth. However, the findings of existing studies are mixed and inconclusive. The purpose of this exploratory study was to assess whether maternal stress during pregnancy is associated with the overall number and diversity of various microbial species in the infant gut microbiome or the abundance of specific bacterial taxa. METHODS Fifty-one women were recruited during their third trimester of pregnancy. The women completed a demographic questionnaire and Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale at recruitment. A stool sample was collected from their neonate at one month of age. Data on potential confounders, such as gestational age and mode of delivery, were extracted from medical records to control for their effects. 16s rRNA gene sequencing was used to identify the diversity and abundance of microbial species, along with multiple linear regression models to examine the effects of prenatal stress on microbial diversity. We employed negative binomial generalized linear models to test for differential expression of various microbial taxa among infants exposed to prenatal stress and those not exposed to prenatal stress. RESULTS More severe symptoms of prenatal stress were associated with a greater diversity of microbial species in the gut microbiome of neonates (β = .30, p = .025). Certain microbial taxa, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, were enriched among infants exposed to greater maternal stress in utero, while others, such as Bacteroides and Enterobacteriaceae, were depleted in contrast to infants exposed to less stress. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that mild to moderate stress exposure in utero could be associated with a microbial environment in early life that is more optimally prepared to thrive in a stressful postnatal environment. Adaptation of gut microbiota under conditions of stress may involve upregulation of bacterial species, including certain protective microorganisms (e.g. Bifidobacterium), as well as downregulation of potential pathogens (e.g. Bacteroides) via epigenetic or other processes within the fetal/neonatal gut-brain axis. However, further research is needed to understand the trajectory of microbial diversity and composition as infant development proceeds and the ways in which both the structure and function of the neonatal microbiome may mediate the relationship between prenatal stress and health outcomes over time. These studies may eventually yield microbial markers and gene pathways that are biosignatures of risk or resilience and inform targets for probiotics or other therapies in utero or during the postnatal period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra J. Weiss
- Department of Community Health Systems, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Maryam Hamidi
- School of Health and Natural Sciences, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA, USA
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Rojas L, van de Wouw M, Wang Y, Vaghef-Mehrabani E, Dewey D, Reimer RA, Letourneau N, Campbell T, Arrieta MC, Giesbrecht GF. Long-term and trimester-specific effects of prenatal stress on the child gut microbiota. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023; 158:106380. [PMID: 37696229 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Stress is common among pregnant individuals and is associated with an altered gut microbiota composition in infants. It is unknown if these compositional changes persist into the preschool years when the gut microbiota reaches an adult-like composition. This study aimed to investigate if indicators of prenatal stress (i.e., psychological distress and stress-related physiology) are associated with children's gut microbiota composition and metabolites at 3-4 years of age. METHODS Maternal-child pairs (n = 131) were from the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) cohort. Each trimester, psychological distress was measured as symptoms of anxiety (Symptom Checklist-90-R) and depressed mood (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), whereas salivary cortisol was quantified as a measure of stress-related physiology. Child stool samples were collected at 3-4 years to evaluate gut microbiota composition using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and fecal metabolome using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Associations between prenatal distress and cortisol with the gut microbiota were determined using Pearson and Spearman correlations and corrected for multiple testing. Associations between prenatal distress and cortisol with the fecal metabolome were assessed using Metaboanalyst. RESULTS Symptoms of depressed mood during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters and anxiety during the 2nd trimester of pregnancy were associated with increased alpha diversity of the child's gut microbiota. Cortisol levels during the 1st trimester were also associated with increased Faith PD diversity (r = 0.32), whereas cortisol levels during the 2nd trimester were associated with reduced Shannon diversity (r = -0.27). Depression scores during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters were associated with reductions in the relative abundances of Eggerthella, Parasutterella, and increases in Ruminococcaceae (rs = -0.28, rs = -0.32, rs = 0.32, respectively), as well as the fecal metabolome (e.g., branched-chain amino acid metabolism). Cortisol levels during the 2nd trimester correlated with 7 bacterial taxa, whereas 1st-trimester cortisol levels were associated with the child's fecal metabolome. CONCLUSIONS Prenatal distress and cortisol were associated with both child gut microbiota composition and fecal metabolome at preschool age. Understanding these associations may allow for the identification of microbiota-targeted interventions to support child developmental outcomes affected by prenatal stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Rojas
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Marcel van de Wouw
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Yanan Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Microbiomes for One Systems Health, Health & Biosecurity, CSIRO, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | | | - Deborah Dewey
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Raylene A Reimer
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Nicole Letourneau
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta
| | - Tavis Campbell
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Marie-Claire Arrieta
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; International Microbiome Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Gerald F Giesbrecht
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
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Mepham J, Nelles-McGee T, Andrews K, Gonzalez A. Exploring the effect of prenatal maternal stress on the microbiomes of mothers and infants: A systematic review. Dev Psychobiol 2023; 65:e22424. [PMID: 37860905 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal maternal stress (PNMS)-characterized by exposure to stress, anxiety, depression, or intimate partner violence-has been linked to biological alterations in infants, including disruptions to their intestinal microbiota, which have long-term implications for children's developmental outcomes. Significant research has been done examining the effects of PNMS on the microbiome in animals, but less is known about these effects in human research. The current systematic review aimed to synthesize current findings on the association between PNMS and mother and infant microbiomes. Medline, Embase, PsycInfo, Web of Science, and Eric databases were searched through to February 2022. A total of eight studies (n = 2219 infants, 2202 mothers) were included in the qualitative synthesis. Findings provided promising evidence of the role that PNMS plays in altering the microbial composition, diversity, and gut immunity in mothers and infants. Notably, majority of included studies found that higher PNMS was linked to increases in genera from the phylum Proteobacteria. The factors influencing these effects are explored including nutrition, birth mode, and parenting behaviors. Potential interventions to mitigate the adverse effects of PNMS are discussed, along with recommendations for future studies with longitudinal designs to better understand the appropriate type and timing of interventions needed to promote "healthy" maternal and infant microbial functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Mepham
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Taylor Nelles-McGee
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Krysta Andrews
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrea Gonzalez
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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15
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Zhang A, de Ángel Solá D, Acevedo Flores M, Cao L, Wang L, Kim JG, Tarr PI, Warner BB, Rosario Matos N, Wang L. Infants exposed in utero to Hurricane Maria have gut microbiomes with reduced diversity and altered metabolic capacity. mSphere 2023; 8:e0013423. [PMID: 37754563 PMCID: PMC10597457 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00134-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiome is a potentially important mechanism that links prenatal disaster exposures with increased disease risks. However, whether prenatal disaster exposures are associated with alterations in the infant's gut microbiome remains unknown. We established a birth cohort study named Hurricane as the Origin of Later Alterations in Microbiome (HOLA) after Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico in 2017. We enrolled vaginally born Latino term infants aged 2 to 6 months, including n = 29 infants who were exposed in utero to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and n = 34 infants who were conceived at least 5 months after the hurricane as controls. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing was performed on infant stool swabs. Infants exposed in utero to Hurricane Maria had a reduced diversity in their gut microbiome compared to the control infants, which was mainly seen in the exclusively formula-fed group (P = 0.02). Four bacterial species, including Bacteroides vulgatus, Clostridium innocuum, Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum, and Clostridium neonatale, were depleted in the exposure group compared to the control group. Compositional differences in the microbial community and metabolic genes between the exposure and control groups were significant, which were driven by the formula feeding group (P = 0.02 for the microbial community and P = 0.008 for the metabolic genes). Metabolic modules involved in carbohydrate metabolism were reduced in the exposure group. Prenatal maternal exposure to Hurricane Maria was associated with a reduced gut commensal and an altered microbial composition and metabolic potential in the offspring's gut. Breastfeeding can adjust the composition of the gut microbiomes of exposed infants. IMPORTANCE Climate change is a serious issue that is affecting human health. With more frequent and intense weather disasters due to climate change, there is an urgent need to evaluate and understand the impacts of prenatal disaster exposures on the offspring. The prenatal stage is a particularly vulnerable stage for disease origination. However, the impact of prenatal weather disaster exposures on the offspring's gut microbiome has not been evaluated. Our HOLA study starts to fill this knowledge gap and provides novel insights into the microbiome as a mechanism that links prenatal disaster exposures with elevated disease risks. Our major finding that reduced microbial diversity and altered metabolic capacity are associated with prenatal hurricane exposures warrants further studies to evaluate the impact of weather disasters on the unborn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ai Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - David de Ángel Solá
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Midnela Acevedo Flores
- Department of Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology, San Juan City Hospital Research Unit, San Juan Hospital, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Lijuan Cao
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Leran Wang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Josh G. Kim
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Phillip I. Tarr
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Barbara B. Warner
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Nicolás Rosario Matos
- Department of Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology, San Juan City Hospital Research Unit, San Juan Hospital, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Leyao Wang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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Warner BB, Rosa BA, Ndao IM, Tarr PI, Miller JP, England SK, Luby JL, Rogers CE, Hall-Moore C, Bryant RE, Wang JD, Linneman LA, Smyser TA, Smyser CD, Barch DM, Miller GE, Chen E, Martin J, Mitreva M. Social and psychological adversity are associated with distinct mother and infant gut microbiome variations. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5824. [PMID: 37726348 PMCID: PMC10509221 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41421-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Health disparities are driven by underlying social disadvantage and psychosocial stressors. However, how social disadvantage and psychosocial stressors lead to adverse health outcomes is unclear, particularly when exposure begins prenatally. Variations in the gut microbiome and circulating proinflammatory cytokines offer potential mechanistic pathways. Here, we interrogate the gut microbiome of mother-child dyads to compare high-versus-low prenatal social disadvantage, psychosocial stressors and maternal circulating cytokine cohorts (prospective case-control study design using gut microbiomes from 121 dyads profiled with 16 S rRNA sequencing and 89 dyads with shotgun metagenomic sequencing). Gut microbiome characteristics significantly predictive of social disadvantage and psychosocial stressors in the mothers and children indicate that different discriminatory taxa and related pathways are involved, including many species of Bifidobacterium and related pathways across several comparisons. The lowest inter-individual gut microbiome similarity was observed among high-social disadvantage/high-psychosocial stressors mothers, suggesting distinct environmental exposures driving a diverging gut microbiome assembly compared to low-social disadvantage/low-psychosocial stressors controls (P = 3.5 × 10-5 for social disadvantage, P = 2.7 × 10-15 for psychosocial stressors). Children's gut metagenome profiles at 4 months also significantly predicted high/low maternal prenatal IL-6 (P = 0.029), with many bacterial species overlapping those identified by social disadvantage and psychosocial stressors. These differences, based on maternal social and psychological status during a critical developmental window early in life, offer potentially modifiable targets to mitigate health inequities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara B Warner
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
| | - Bruce A Rosa
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - I Malick Ndao
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Phillip I Tarr
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - J Philip Miller
- Institute for Informatics, Data Science and Biostatistics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Sarah K England
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Joan L Luby
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Cynthia E Rogers
- Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Carla Hall-Moore
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Renay E Bryant
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Jacqueline D Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Laura A Linneman
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Tara A Smyser
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Christopher D Smyser
- Departments of Neurology, Pediatrics and Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Deanna M Barch
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Psychiatry, & Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Gregory E Miller
- Institute for Policy Research & Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Edith Chen
- Institute for Policy Research & Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - John Martin
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Makedonka Mitreva
- Departments of Medicine and Genetics, and McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
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17
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Rubinstein MR, Burgueño AL, Quiroga S, Wald MR, Genaro AM. Current Understanding of the Roles of Gut-Brain Axis in the Cognitive Deficits Caused by Perinatal Stress Exposure. Cells 2023; 12:1735. [PMID: 37443769 PMCID: PMC10340286 DOI: 10.3390/cells12131735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The term 'perinatal environment' refers to the period surrounding birth, which plays a crucial role in brain development. It has been suggested that dynamic communication between the neuro-immune system and gut microbiota is essential in maintaining adequate brain function. This interaction depends on the mother's status during pregnancy and/or the newborn environment. Here, we show experimental and clinical evidence that indicates that the perinatal period is a critical window in which stress-induced immune activation and altered microbiota compositions produce lasting behavioral consequences, although a clear causative relationship has not yet been established. In addition, we discuss potential early treatments for preventing the deleterious effect of perinatal stress exposure. In this sense, early environmental enrichment exposure (including exercise) and melatonin use in the perinatal period could be valuable in improving the negative consequences of early adversities. The evidence presented in this review encourages the realization of studies investigating the beneficial role of melatonin administration and environmental enrichment exposure in mitigating cognitive alteration in offspring under perinatal stress exposure. On the other hand, direct evidence of microbiota restoration as the main mechanism behind the beneficial effects of this treatment has not been fully demonstrated and should be explored in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Roxana Rubinstein
- Laboratorio de Psiconeuroendocrinoinmunologia, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)—Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina, Buenos Aires C1107AFF, Argentina; (A.L.B.); (S.Q.); (M.R.W.)
| | | | | | | | - Ana María Genaro
- Laboratorio de Psiconeuroendocrinoinmunologia, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)—Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina, Buenos Aires C1107AFF, Argentina; (A.L.B.); (S.Q.); (M.R.W.)
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18
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Zhang F, Wang D. Potential of Akkermansia muciniphila and its outer membrane proteins as therapeutic targets for neuropsychological diseases. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1191445. [PMID: 37440890 PMCID: PMC10333588 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1191445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota varies dramatically among individuals, and changes over time within the same individual, due to diversities in genetic backgrounds, diet, nutrient supplementations and use of antibiotics. Up until now, studies on dysbiosis of microbiota have expanded to a wider range of diseases, with Akkermansia muciniphila at the cross spot of many of these diseases. A. muciniphila is a Gram-negative bacterium that produces short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and Amuc_1100 is one of its most highly expressed outer membrane proteins. This review aims to summarize current knowledge on correlations between A. muciniphila and involved neuropsychological diseases published in the last decade, with a focus on the potential of this bacterium and its outer membrane proteins as therapeutic targets for these diseases, on the basis of evidence accumulated from animal and clinical studies, as well as mechanisms of action from peripheral to central nervous system (CNS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Fenghua Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Dali Wang
- Center for Clinical and Translational Medicine, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
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19
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Agusti A, Lamers F, Tamayo M, Benito-Amat C, Molina-Mendoza GV, Penninx BWJH, Sanz Y. The Gut Microbiome in Early Life Stress: A Systematic Review. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15112566. [PMID: 37299527 DOI: 10.3390/nu15112566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to early life stress (ELS), prenatal or postnatal during childhood and adolescence, can significantly impact mental and physical health. The role of the intestinal microbiome in human health, and particularly mental health, is becoming increasingly evident. This systematic review aims to summarize the clinical data evaluating the effect of ELS on the human intestinal microbiome. The systematic review (CRD42022351092) was performed following PRISMA guidelines, with ELS considered as exposure to psychological stressors prenatally and during early life (childhood and adolescence). Thirteen articles met all inclusion criteria, and all studies reviewed found a link between ELS and the gut microbiome in both prenatal and postnatal periods. However, we failed to find consensus microbiome signatures associated with pre- or postnatal stress, or both. The inconsistency of results is likely attributed to various factors such as different experimental designs, ages examined, questionnaires, timing of sample collection and analysis methods, small population sizes, and the type of stressors. Additional studies using similar stressors and validated stress measures, as well as higher-resolution microbiome analytical approaches, are needed to draw definitive conclusions about the links between stress and the human gut microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Agusti
- Microbiome, Nutrition & Health Research Unit, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, Excellence Center Severo Ochoa-Spanish National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), 46980 Valencia, Spain
| | - Femke Lamers
- Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Public Health, Mental Health Program, Department of Psychiatry, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maria Tamayo
- Microbiome, Nutrition & Health Research Unit, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, Excellence Center Severo Ochoa-Spanish National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), 46980 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Autonomous University of Madrid, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos Benito-Amat
- Institute for the Management and Innovation of Knowledge (INGENIO-CSIC-UPV), Polytechnic University of Valencia, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Gara V Molina-Mendoza
- Microbiome, Nutrition & Health Research Unit, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, Excellence Center Severo Ochoa-Spanish National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), 46980 Valencia, Spain
| | - Brenda W J H Penninx
- Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Public Health, Mental Health Program, Department of Psychiatry, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yolanda Sanz
- Microbiome, Nutrition & Health Research Unit, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, Excellence Center Severo Ochoa-Spanish National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), 46980 Valencia, Spain
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Dutton CL, Maisha FM, Quinn EB, Morales KL, Moore JM, Mulligan CJ. Maternal Psychosocial Stress Is Associated with Reduced Diversity in the Early Infant Gut Microbiome. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11040975. [PMID: 37110398 PMCID: PMC10142543 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11040975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The developing infant gut microbiome is highly sensitive to environmental exposures, enabling its evolution into an organ that supports the immune system, confers protection from infection, and facilitates optimal gut and central nervous system function. In this study, we focus on the impact of maternal psychosocial stress on the infant gut microbiome. Forty-seven mother-infant dyads were recruited at the HEAL Africa Hospital in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Extensive medical, demographic, and psychosocial stress data were collected at birth, and infant stool samples were collected at six weeks, three months, and six months. A composite maternal psychosocial stress score was created, based on eight questionnaires to capture a diverse range of stress exposures. Full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences were generated. Infants of mothers with high composite stress scores showed lower levels of gut microbiome beta diversity at six weeks and three months, as well as higher levels of alpha diversity at six months compared to infants of low stress mothers. Longitudinal analyses showed that infants of high stress mothers had lower levels of health-promoting Lactobacillus gasseri and Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum at six weeks compared to infants of low stress mothers, but the differences largely disappeared by three to six months. Previous research has shown that L. gasseri can be used as a probiotic to reduce inflammation, stress, and fatigue, as well as to improve mental state, while B. pseudocatenulatum is important in modulating the gut-brain axis in early development and in preventing mood disorders. Our finding of reduced levels of these health-promoting bacteria in infants of high stress mothers suggests that the infant gut microbiome may help mediate the effect of maternal stress on infant health and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher L Dutton
- Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, 1115 Turlington Hall, P.O. Box 117305, Gainesville, FL 32611-7305, USA
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida, 2033 Mowry Rd, P.O. Box 103610, Gainesville, FL 32610-3610, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, 220 Bartram Hall, P.O. Box 118525, Gainesville, FL 32611-8525, USA
| | - Felicien Masanga Maisha
- Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, 1115 Turlington Hall, P.O. Box 117305, Gainesville, FL 32611-7305, USA
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida, 2033 Mowry Rd, P.O. Box 103610, Gainesville, FL 32610-3610, USA
- HEAL Africa Hospital, Rue Lyn Lusi No. 111, Goma BP 319, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Edward B Quinn
- Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, 1115 Turlington Hall, P.O. Box 117305, Gainesville, FL 32611-7305, USA
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida, 2033 Mowry Rd, P.O. Box 103610, Gainesville, FL 32610-3610, USA
| | - Katherine Liceth Morales
- Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, 1115 Turlington Hall, P.O. Box 117305, Gainesville, FL 32611-7305, USA
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida, 2033 Mowry Rd, P.O. Box 103610, Gainesville, FL 32610-3610, USA
| | - Julie M Moore
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Room V3-111B, P.O. Box 110880, Gainesville, FL 32611-4111, USA
| | - Connie J Mulligan
- Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, 1115 Turlington Hall, P.O. Box 117305, Gainesville, FL 32611-7305, USA
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida, 2033 Mowry Rd, P.O. Box 103610, Gainesville, FL 32610-3610, USA
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Sharvin BL, Aburto MR, Cryan JF. Decoding the neurocircuitry of gut feelings: Region-specific microbiome-mediated brain alterations. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 179:106033. [PMID: 36758820 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Research in the last decade has unveiled a crucial role for the trillions of microorganisms that reside in the gut in influencing host neurodevelopment across the lifespan via the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Studies have linked alterations in the composition, complexity, and diversity of the gut microbiota to changes in behaviour including abnormal social interactions, cognitive deficits, and anxiety- and depressive-like phenotypes. Moreover, the microbiota has been linked with neurodevelopmental, neuropsychiatric, and neurodegenerative disorders. Interestingly, there appears to be specific brain regions governing the neurocircuitry driving higher cognitive function that are susceptible to influence from manipulations to the host microbiome. This review will aim to elucidate the region-specific effects mediated by the gut microbiota, with a focus on translational animal models and some existing human neuroimaging data. Compelling preclinical evidence suggests disruption to normal microbiota-gut-brain signalling can have detrimental effects on the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus, and striatum. Furthermore, human neuroimaging studies have unveiled a role for the microbiota in mediating functional connectivity and structure of specific brain regions that can be traced back to neurocognition and behavioural output. Understanding these microbiota-mediated changes will aid in identifying unique therapeutic targets for treating neurological disorders associated with these regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan L Sharvin
- APC Microbiome, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Maria Rodriguez Aburto
- APC Microbiome, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - John F Cryan
- APC Microbiome, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
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22
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Xu R, Zhang Y, Chen S, Zeng Y, Fu X, Chen T, Luo S, Zhang X. The role of the probiotic Akkermansia muciniphila in brain functions: insights underpinning therapeutic potential. Crit Rev Microbiol 2023; 49:151-176. [PMID: 35272549 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2022.2044286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The role of Akkermansia muciniphila, one of the most abundant microorganisms of the intestinal microbiota, has been studied extensively in metabolic diseases, such as obesity and diabetes. It is considered a next-generation probiotic microorganism. Although its mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated, accumulating evidence indicates the important role of A. muciniphila in brain functions via the gut-brain axis and its potential as a therapeutic target in various neuropsychiatric disorders. However, only a limited number of studies, particularly clinical studies, have directly assessed the therapeutic effects of A. muciniphila interventions in these disorders. This is the first review to discuss the comprehensive mechanism of A. muciniphila in the gut-brain axis via the protection of the intestinal mucosal barrier and modulation of the immune system and metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids, amino acids, and amino acid derivatives. Additionally, the role of A. muciniphila and its therapeutic potential in various neuropsychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and cognitive deficit, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis, have been discussed. The review suggests the potential role of A. muciniphila in healthy brain functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiling Xu
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,National Clinic Research Center for Mental Disorders, Changsha, Hunan, China.,National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Mental Health Institute, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yuxuan Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,National Clinic Research Center for Mental Disorders, Changsha, Hunan, China.,National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Mental Health Institute, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Shurui Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,National Clinic Research Center for Mental Disorders, Changsha, Hunan, China.,National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Mental Health Institute, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yaohui Zeng
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,National Clinic Research Center for Mental Disorders, Changsha, Hunan, China.,National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Mental Health Institute, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xuan Fu
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,National Clinic Research Center for Mental Disorders, Changsha, Hunan, China.,National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Mental Health Institute, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ti Chen
- Clinical Laboratory, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Shilin Luo
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaojie Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,National Clinic Research Center for Mental Disorders, Changsha, Hunan, China.,National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Mental Health Institute, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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23
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Galley JD, Mashburn-Warren L, Blalock LC, Lauber CL, Carroll JE, Ross KM, Hobel C, Coussons-Read M, Dunkel Schetter C, Gur TL. Maternal anxiety, depression and stress affects offspring gut microbiome diversity and bifidobacterial abundances. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 107:253-264. [PMID: 36240906 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Uncovering mechanisms underlying fetal programming during pregnancy is of critical importance. Atypical neurodevelopment during the pre- and immediate postnatal period has been associated with long-term adverse health outcomes, including mood disorders and aberrant cognitive ability in offspring. Maternal factors that have been implicated in anomalous offspring development include maternal inflammation and tress, anxiety, and depression. One potential mechanism through which these factors perturb normal offspring postnatal development is through microbiome disruption. The mother is a primary source of early postnatal microbiome seeding for the offspring, and the transference of a healthy microbiome is key in normal neurodevelopment. Since psychological stress, mood disorders, and inflammation have all been implicated in altering maternal microbiome community structure, passing on aberrant microbial communities to the offspring that may then affect developmental outcomes. Therefore, we examined how maternal stress, anxiety and depression assessed with standardized instruments, and maternal inflammatory cytokine levels in the pre- and postnatal period are associated with the offspring microbiome within the first 13 months of life, utilizing full length 16S sequencing on infant stool samples, that allowed for species-level resolution. Results revealed that infants of mothers who reported higher anxiety and perceived stress had reduced alpha diversity. Additionally, the relative taxonomic quantitative abundances of Bifidobacterium dentium and other species that have been associated with either modulation of the gut-brain axis, or other beneficial health outcomes, were reduced in the offspring of mothers with higher anxiety, perceived stress, and depression. We also found associations between bifidobacteria and prenatal maternal pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10. In summary, specific microbial taxa involved in maintaining proper brain and immune function are lower in offspring born to mothers with anxiety, depression, or stress, providing strong evidence for a mechanism by which maternal factors may affect offspring health through microbiota dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey D Galley
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA; Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | | | - Lexie C Blalock
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Christian L Lauber
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Judith E Carroll
- Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kharah M Ross
- Center for Social Sciences, Athabasca University, Athabasca, Alberta, Canada
| | - Calvin Hobel
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mary Coussons-Read
- Department of Psychology, The University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, CO, USA
| | | | - Tamar L Gur
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA; Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.
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24
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Zhou W, Zhan L, Xu H, Zhang L. Structural Alteration of Gut Microbiota During the Amelioration of Chronic Psychological Stress-Aggravated Diabetes-Associated Cognitive Decline by a Traditional Chinese Herbal Formula, ZiBu PiYin Recipe. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 90:1465-1483. [PMID: 36278351 DOI: 10.3233/jad-220692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic psychological stress (PS) hinders the treatment of diabetes-associated cognitive decline (DACD). However, the impact of chronic PS on the risk of developing DACD remains unclear. There is growing evidence that gut flora interventions are promising targets for treating stress-related diseases. OBJECTIVE We examined whether chronic PS triggers or exacerbates the onset of DACD in rats and aimed to elucidate whether ZiBuPiYin recipe (ZBPYR) prevents and treats chronic PS-aggravated DACD by dynamically maintaining the components of the gut microbiota. METHODS We performed chronic PS (restraint, rotation, and congestion) on ZDF rats to establish a model. Cognitive function was evaluated by behavioral experiments, and activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis was detected by ELISA. Weekly feces from rats were collected for 16 S RNA sequencing. RESULTS We found that chronic PS promoted cognitive abnormalities and exacerbated DACD phenotypes. Additionally, chronic PS altered intestinal flora diversity, dynamically elevating the abundance of Alistipes and Coprococcus; enriching Module 1 (Dorea, Blautia, Ruminococcus) and Module 48 (Blautia); and inhibiting Module 20 (Lactobacillus, SMB53), and Module 42 (Akkermansia). ZBPYR significantly alleviated hyperglycemia and cognitive impairment in chronic PS-aggravated DACD rats and dynamically reduced the abundance of Alistipes and Coprococcus; significantly enriched Module 3 (Ruminococcus) and Module 45 (Lactobacillus, Coprococcus, SMB53); and suppressed Module 2 (Lactobacillus), Module 16 (Turicibacter, Trichococcus, Lactobacillus, 02d06, Clostridium), Module 23 (Bifidobacterium), and Module 43 (Clostridium). CONCLUSION ZBPYR might prevent and treat chronic PS-aggravated DACD by dynamically regulating Lactobacillus, Alistipes, and Coprococcus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Zhou
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine & School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Libin Zhan
- Centre for Innovative Engineering Technology in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, China
| | - Huiying Xu
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine & School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Lijing Zhang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine & School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
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25
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Zhang X, Mao F, Li Y, Wang J, Wu L, Sun J, Cao F. Effects of a maternal mindfulness intervention targeting prenatal psychological distress on infants' meconium microbiota: A randomized controlled trial. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 145:105913. [PMID: 36081227 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal psychological distress could affect gut microbiota of the infant; however, previous studies to date have been observational. OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) during pregnancy on the meconium microbiota of infants by alleviating maternal psychological distress. DESIGN Randomized controlled trial. METHOD Pregnant women with symptoms of depression or anxiety were randomized to either the intervention group (n = 80), comprising usual perinatal care and six digitally guided self-help MBI sessions, or the control group (n = 80) who underwent usual perinatal care. Meconium was collected within 48 h of birth to evaluate the infant's gut microbiota. The Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test, analysis of similarities, and DESeq2 were performed to explore the effects of the MBI on alpha and beta diversity indices and specific genera. RESULTS There were no significant differences between groups regarding the alpha diversity indices, including Chao1 and Simpson (p = 0.83 and p = 0.58). However, there was a significant between-group difference in the beta diversity index (R=0.02, p = 0.03). Bifidobacterium (log2 fold change=-1.90, FDR=0.002) and Blautia (log2 fold change=-1.45, FDR=0.01) were abundant in the intervention group, whereas Staphylococcus (log2 fold change=1.44, FDR=0.01) was abundant in the control group. CONCLUSIONS MBI aimed at alleviating maternal psychological distress can positively alter the meconium microbiota of infants. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of maternal mindfulness during pregnancy on infant meconium microbiota require further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Zhang
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Fangxiang Mao
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yang Li
- School of Nursing, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, USA
| | - Juan Wang
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Liuliu Wu
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jiwei Sun
- School of Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Fenglin Cao
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
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26
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Kloepfer KM, McCauley KE, Kirjavainen PV. The Microbiome as a Gateway to Prevention of Allergic Disease Development. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY: IN PRACTICE 2022; 10:2195-2204. [PMID: 35718258 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2022.05.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Allergic diseases exclusively affect tissues that face environmental challenges and harbor endogenous bacterial microbiota. The microbes inhabiting the affected tissues may not be mere bystanders in this process but actively affect the risk of allergic sensitization, disease development, and exacerbation or abatement of symptoms. Experimental evidence provides several plausible means by which the human microbiota could influence the development of allergic diseases including, but not limited to, effects on antigen presentation and induction of tolerance and allergen permeation by endorsing or disrupting epithelial barrier integrity. Epidemiological evidence attests to the significance of age-appropriate, nonpathogenic microbiota development in skin, gastrointestinal tract, and airways for protection against allergic disease development. Thus, there exist potential targets for preventive actions either in the prenatal or postnatal period. These could include maternal dietary interventions, antibiotic stewardship for both the mother and infant, reducing elective cesarean deliveries, and understanding barriers to breastfeeding and timing of food diversification. In here, we will review the current understanding and evidence of allergy-associated human microbiota patterns, their role in the development of allergic diseases, and how we could harness these associations to our benefit against allergies.
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27
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Hickmott AJ, Boose KJ, Wakefield ML, Brand CM, Snodgrass JJ, Ting N, White FJ. A comparison of faecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentration and gut microbiota diversity in bonobos ( Pan paniscus). MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2022; 168. [PMID: 35960548 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Sex, age, diet, stress and social environment have all been shown to influence the gut microbiota. In several mammals, including humans, increased stress is related to decreasing gut microbial diversity and may differentially impact specific taxa. Recent evidence from gorillas shows faecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentration (FGMC) did not significantly explain gut microbial diversity, but it was significantly associated with the abundance of the family Anaerolineaceae. These patterns have yet to be examined in other primates, like bonobos (Pan paniscus). We compared FGMC to 16S rRNA amplicons for 202 bonobo faecal samples collected across 5 months to evaluate the impact of stress, measured with FGMC, on the gut microbiota. Alpha diversity measures (Chao's and Shannon's indexes) were not significantly related to FGMC. FGMC explained 0.80 % of the variation in beta diversity for Jensen-Shannon and 1.2% for weighted UniFrac but was not significant for unweighted UniFrac. We found that genus SHD-231, a member of the family Anaerolinaceae had a significant positive relationship with FGMC. These results suggest that bonobos are relatively similar to gorillas in alpha diversity and family Anaerolinaceae responses to FGMC, but different from gorillas in beta diversity. Members of the family Anaerolinaceae may be differentially affected by FGMC across great apes. FGMC appears to be context dependent and may be species-specific for alpha and beta diversity but this study provides an example of consistent change in two African apes. Thus, the relationship between physiological stress and the gut microbiome may be difficult to predict, even among closely related species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexana J Hickmott
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.,Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78227, USA.,Southwest National Primate Research Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Klaree J Boose
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Monica L Wakefield
- Sociology, Anthropology, and Philosophy, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099, USA
| | - Colin M Brand
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, USA.,Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - J Josh Snodgrass
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Nelson Ting
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.,Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Frances J White
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
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28
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Associations of maternal prenatal emotional symptoms with neurodevelopment of children and the neonatal meconium microbiota: A prospective cohort study. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 142:105787. [PMID: 35512557 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal emotional symptoms during pregnancy increase the risk of neurodevelopmental problems in offspring, and microbiota have been shown to be a potential mechanism underlying the link. However, the associations among maternal prenatal emotional symptoms, the meconium microbiota, and offspring neurodevelopment have yet to be fully elucidated. The aim of this prospective cohort study was to assess the relationship between maternal prenatal emotional symptoms and neurodevelopment of the child at 24 months of age, and to investigate the potential role of the neonatal meconium microbiota in the relationship. METHODS A total of 410 mother-child pairs (152 women in the Symptoms group vs. 258 women in the No-symptoms group) were recruited from the ongoing Shanghai Maternal-Child Pairs Cohort. This study included a subgroup of women who were assessed for maternal anxiety and depressive symptoms at 32-36 weeks of gestation. Neonatal meconium samples were collected after birth for 16 S sequencing. Children's neurodevelopment was measured using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition (ASQ-3) and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) at 24 months postnatally (n = 287). RESULTS Compared with the No-symptoms group, children in the Symptoms group had a higher degree of hyperactivity and total difficulties at 24 months of age. Increases in alpha diversity, distinct overall composition, enriched relative abundance of Proteobacteria, and different predicted microbial functions were observed in the meconium of neonates exposed to maternal prenatal emotional symptoms. The neonatal gut microbiota alpha diversity and relative abundance of genera from the Proteobacteria phylum and Lactobacillus were negatively correlated with children's degree of prosocial behavior, tendency toward hyperactivity, and poor fine motor development. In addition, mediating effects of neonatal meconium microbial richness and the relative abundance of Lactobacillus were observed between maternal emotional symptoms and children's prosocial behavior. CONCLUSIONS Maternal prenatal emotional symptoms are associated with alterations in the offspring meconium microbiota and children's neurodevelopment at 24 months of age, and the microbial richness indices and Lactobacillus may play a mediating role. Future research is needed to identify and understand the biological pathways and metabolisms linking the relationships among maternal emotional symptoms, meconium microbiota, and neurodevelopment of children.
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29
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Doroftei B, Ilie OD, Diaconu R, Hutanu D, Stoian I, Ilea C. An Updated Narrative Mini-Review on the Microbiota Changes in Antenatal and Post-Partum Depression. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12071576. [PMID: 35885482 PMCID: PMC9315700 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12071576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Antenatal depression (AND) and post-partum depression (PPD) are long-term debilitating psychiatric disorders that significantly influence the composition of the gut flora of mothers and infants that starts from the intrauterine life. Not only does bacterial ratio shift impact the immune system, but it also increases the risk of potentially life-threatening disorders. Material and Methods: Therefore, we conducted a narrative mini-review aiming to gather all evidence published between 2018–2022 regarding microflora changes in all three stages of pregnancy. Results: We initially identified 47 potentially eligible studies, from which only 7 strictly report translocations; 3 were conducted on rodent models and 4 on human patients. The remaining studies were divided based on their topic, precisely focused on how probiotics, breastfeeding, diet, antidepressants, exogenous stressors, and plant-derived compounds modulate in a bidirectional way upon behavior and microbiota. Almost imperatively, dysbacteriosis cause cognitive impairments, reflected by abnormal temperament and personality traits that last up until 2 years old. Thankfully, a distinct technique that involves fecal matter transfer between individuals has been perfected over the years and was successfully translated into clinical practice. It proved to be a reliable approach in diminishing functional non- and gastrointestinal deficiencies, but a clear link between depressive women’s gastrointestinal/vaginal microbiota and clinical outcomes following reproductive procedures is yet to be established. Another gut-dysbiosis-driving factor is antibiotics, known for their potential to trigger inflammation. Fortunately, the studies conducted on mice that lack microbiota offer, without a shadow of a doubt, insight. Conclusions: It can be concluded that the microbiota is a powerful organ, and its optimum functionality is crucial, likely being the missing puzzle piece in the etiopathogenesis of psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bogdan Doroftei
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”, University Street, No. 16, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (B.D.); (I.S.); (C.I.)
- Clinical Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology “Cuza Voda”, Cuza Voda Street, No. 34, 700038 Iasi, Romania;
- Origyn Fertility Center, Palace Street, No. 3C, 700032 Iasi, Romania
| | - Ovidiu-Dumitru Ilie
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Biology, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University, Carol I Avenue, No. 20A, 700505 Iasi, Romania
- Correspondence:
| | - Roxana Diaconu
- Clinical Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology “Cuza Voda”, Cuza Voda Street, No. 34, 700038 Iasi, Romania;
- Origyn Fertility Center, Palace Street, No. 3C, 700032 Iasi, Romania
| | - Delia Hutanu
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Chemistry-Biology-Geography, West University of Timisoara, Vasile Pârvan Avenue, No. 4, 300115 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Irina Stoian
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”, University Street, No. 16, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (B.D.); (I.S.); (C.I.)
| | - Ciprian Ilea
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”, University Street, No. 16, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (B.D.); (I.S.); (C.I.)
- Clinical Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology “Cuza Voda”, Cuza Voda Street, No. 34, 700038 Iasi, Romania;
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30
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Zhao F, Wang K, Wen Y, Chen X, Liu H, Qi F, Fu Y, Zhu J, Guan S, Liu Z. Contribution of hippocampal BDNF/CREB signaling pathway and gut microbiota to emotional behavior impairment induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress during pregnancy in rats offspring. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13605. [PMID: 35769142 PMCID: PMC9235812 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Numerous studies have shown that exposure to prenatal maternal stress (PMS) is associated with various psychopathological outcomes of offspring. The accumulating evidence linking bacteria in the gut and neurons in the brain (the microbiota-gut-brain axis) has been aconsensus; however, there is a lack of research on the involvement mechanism of gut microbiota in the regulation of the BDNF/CREB signaling pathway in the hippocampus of prenatally stressed offspring. Methods Pregnant rats were subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) to establish the prenatal maternal stress model. The body weight was measured and the behavioral changes were recorded. Offspring were tested to determine emotional state using sucrose preference test (SPT), open-field test (OFT) and suspended tail test (STT). Gut microbiota was evaluated by sequencing the microbial 16S rRNA V3-V4 region, and the interactive analysis of bacterial community structure and diversity was carried out. The expression of hippocampal BDNF, TrkB and CREB mRNA and proteins were respectively measured using RT-PCR and Western blotting. Results Prenatal maternal stress increased maternal plasma corticosterone levels, slowed maternal weight gain and caused depression-like behaviors (all P < 0.05). In offspring, prenatal maternal stress increased plasma corticosterone levels (P < 0.05) and emotional behavior changes (depression-like state) were observed (P < 0.05). The species abundance, diversity and composition of the offspring's gut microbiota changed after the maternal stress during pregnancy (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group's offspring, the species abundance of Lactobacillaceae was dropped, while the abundance of the Muribaculaceae species abundance was risen. Concurrent, changes in the hippocampal structure of the offspring and decreases in expression of BDNF/CREB signaling were noted (P < 0.05). Conclusions Prenatal maternal stress leads to high corticosterone status and abnormal emotion behavior of offspring, which may be associated with the abnormal BDNF/CREB signaling in hippocampus of offspring caused by the change of gut microbiota composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Zhao
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Chronic Disease Control, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
- School of Public Health and Management, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
- School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Kai Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Chronic Disease Control, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
- School of Public Health and Management, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
| | - Yujun Wen
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
| | - Xiaohui Chen
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Chronic Disease Control, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
- School of Public Health and Management, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
| | - Hongya Liu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Chronic Disease Control, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
- School of Public Health and Management, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
| | - Faqiu Qi
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Chronic Disease Control, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
- School of Public Health and Management, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
| | - Youjuan Fu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Chronic Disease Control, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
- School of Public Health and Management, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
| | - Jiashu Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Chronic Disease Control, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
- School of Public Health and Management, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
| | - Suzhen Guan
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Chronic Disease Control, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
- School of Public Health and Management, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
| | - Zhihong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Chronic Disease Control, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
- School of Public Health and Management, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
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31
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Turroni F, Rizzo SM, Ventura M, Bernasconi S. Cross-talk between the infant/maternal gut microbiota and the endocrine system: a promising topic of research. MICROBIOME RESEARCH REPORTS 2022; 1:14. [PMID: 38045647 PMCID: PMC10688790 DOI: 10.20517/mrr.2021.14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
The infant gut microbiota is the set of microorganisms colonizing the baby's intestine. This complex ecosystem appears to be related to various physiological conditions of the host and it has also been shown to act as one of the most crucial determinants of infant's health. Furthermore, the mother's endocrine system, through its hormones, can have an effect on the composition of the newborn's gut microbiota. In this perspective, we summarize the recent state of the art on the intricate relationships involving the intestinal microbiota and the endocrine system of mother/baby to underline the need to study the molecular mechanisms that appear to be involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Turroni
- Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences, and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma 43124, Italy
- Microbiome Research Hub, University of Parma, Parma 43124, Italy
| | - Sonia Mirjam Rizzo
- Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences, and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma 43124, Italy
| | - Marco Ventura
- Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences, and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma 43124, Italy
- Microbiome Research Hub, University of Parma, Parma 43124, Italy
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32
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Caparros-Gonzalez RA, Lynn F, Alderdice F, Peralta-Ramirez MI. Cortisol levels versus self-report stress measures during pregnancy as predictors of adverse infant outcomes: a systematic review. Stress 2022; 25:189-212. [PMID: 35435113 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2022.2059348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Systematically review existing evidence to (1) identify the association between self-report stress and cortisol levels measured during pregnancy; and, (2) assess their association with adverse infant outcomes to determine which is the better predictor. A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Search terms focused on pregnancy, psychological stress and cortisol. Nine electronic databases were searched, in addition to reference lists of relevant papers. Eligibility criteria consisted of studies that included measurement of self-reported psychological stress, cortisol and assessed their associations with any infant-related outcome. Further limits included studies published in English or Spanish with human female participants. A meta-regression was not feasible due to differences in study samples, measurement tools employed, types of cortisol assessed and outcomes reported. A narrative synthesis was provided. 28 studies were eligible for inclusion. Convergent validity between self-report measures and cortisol was reported by three studies (range r = 0.12-0.41). Higher levels of self-report stress were significantly associated with intrauterine growth restriction (fetal biparietal diameter, low fetal head circumference, abdominal circumference), low gestational age at birth, low anthropometric measures (birth length, head circumference, length of the neonate), poor infant neurodevelopment (cognitive development) and potentially pathogenic gut microbiota (Clostridiaceae Clostridium, Haemophilus) in six studies. Higher cortisol levels were significantly associated with intrauterine growth restriction (fetal biparietal diameter, low fetal head circumference, abdominal circumference), low gestational age at birth, low infant birth weight, poor infant neurodevelopment (attention scores on the Network Neurobehavioral Scale) and low levels of potentially protective gut microbiota (Lactobacillus, Slackia and Actinobaculum) in 13 studies. Of the studies that assessed which type of measure was a better predictor of infant outcomes (n = 6), there was agreement that cortisol levels were statistically better at predicting adverse outcomes than self-reported stress. Self-report stress measures appear to be modest predictors of adverse infant outcomes in comparison to cortisol. A number of methodological limitations need to be addressed in future studies to help understand the relationship between cortisol and self-reported stress and how they are related to adverse infant outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael A Caparros-Gonzalez
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain
| | - Fiona Lynn
- Medical Biology Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Fiona Alderdice
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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33
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Anisman H, Kusnecov AW. Stress, immunity, and cancer. Cancer 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-91904-3.00017-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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34
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Sun Y, Xie R, Li L, Jin G, Zhou B, Huang H, Li M, Yang Y, Liu X, Cao X, Wang B, Liu W, Jiang K, Cao H. Prenatal Maternal Stress Exacerbates Experimental Colitis of Offspring in Adulthood. Front Immunol 2021; 12:700995. [PMID: 34804005 PMCID: PMC8595204 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.700995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing worldwide and correlates with dysregulated immune response because of gut microbiota dysbiosis. Some adverse early life events influence the establishment of the gut microbiota and act as risk factors for IBD. Prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) induces gut dysbiosis and perturbs the neuroimmune network of offspring. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether PNMS increases the susceptibility of offspring to colitis in adulthood. The related index was assessed during the weaning period and adulthood. We found that PNMS impaired the intestinal epithelial cell proliferation, goblet cell and Paneth cell differentiation, and mucosal barrier function in 3-week-old offspring. PNMS induced low-grade intestinal inflammation, but no signs of microscopic inflammatory changes were observed. Although there was no pronounced difference between the PNMS and control offspring in terms of their overall measures of alpha diversity for the gut microbiota, distinct microbial community changes characterized by increases in Desulfovibrio, Streptococcus, and Enterococcus and decreases in Bifidobacterium and Blautia were induced in the 3-week-old PNMS offspring. Notably, the overgrowth of Desulfovibrio persisted from the weaning period to adulthood, consistent with the results observed using fluorescence in situ hybridization in the colon mucosa. Mechanistically, the fecal microbiota transplantation experiment showed that the gut microbiota from the PNMS group impaired the intestinal barrier function and induced low-grade inflammation. The fecal bacterial solution from the PNMS group was more potent than that from the control group in inducing inflammation and gut barrier disruption in CaCo-2 cells. After treatment with a TNF-α inhibitor (adalimumab), no statistical difference in the indicators of inflammation and intestinal barrier function was observed between the two groups. Finally, exposure to PNMS remarkably increased the values of the histopathological parameters and the inflammatory cytokine production in a mouse model of experimental colitis in adulthood. These findings suggest that PNMS can inhibit intestinal development, impair the barrier function, and cause gut dysbiosis characterized by the persistent overgrowth of Desulfovibrio in the offspring, resulting in exacerbated experimental colitis in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Sun
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Institute of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China
| | - Runxiang Xie
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Institute of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China
| | - Lu Li
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Institute of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China
| | - Ge Jin
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Institute of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China
| | - Bingqian Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Institute of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China
| | - Huan Huang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Institute of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China
| | - Mengfan Li
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Institute of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China
| | - Yunwei Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Institute of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiang Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Institute of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaocang Cao
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Institute of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China
| | - Bangmao Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Institute of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China
| | - Wentian Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Institute of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China
| | - Kui Jiang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Institute of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China
| | - Hailong Cao
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Institute of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China
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35
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MacLeod KJ, Kohl KD, Trevelline BK, Langkilde T. Context-dependent effects of glucocorticoids on the lizard gut microbiome. Mol Ecol 2021; 31:185-196. [PMID: 34661319 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The vertebrate gut microbiota (bacterial, archaeal and fungal communities of the gastrointestinal tract) can have profound effects on the physiological processes of their hosts. Although relatively stable, changes in microbiome structure and composition occur due to changes in the environment, including exposure to stressors and associated increases in glucocorticoid hormones. Although a growing number of studies have linked stressor exposure to microbiome changes, few studies have experimentally explored the specific influence of glucocorticoids on the microbiome in wild animals, or across ecologically important processes (e.g., reproductive stages). Here we tested the response of the gut microbiota of adult female Sceloporus undulatus across gestation to ecologically relevant elevations of a stress-relevant glucocorticoid hormone (CORT) in order to determine (i) how experimentally elevated CORT influenced microbiome characteristics, and (ii) whether this relationship was dependent on reproductive context (i.e., whether females were gravid or not, and, in those that were gravid, gestational stage). We show that the effects of CORT on gut microbiota are complex and depend on both gestational state and stage. CORT treatment altered microbial community membership and resulted in an increase in microbiome diversity in late-gestation females, and microbial community membership varied according to treatment. In nongravid females, CORT treatment decreased interindividual variation in microbial communities, but this effect was not observed in late-gestation females. Our results highlight the need for a more holistic understanding of the downstream physiological effects of glucocorticoids, as well as the importance of context (here, gestational state and stage) in interpreting stress effects in ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsty J MacLeod
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Kevin D Kohl
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Brian K Trevelline
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.,Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Tracy Langkilde
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA.,Center for Brain, Behavior and Cognition, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
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36
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Hantsoo L, Zemel BS. Stress gets into the belly: Early life stress and the gut microbiome. Behav Brain Res 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113474
expr 831417737 + 864631554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
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37
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Giovannini N, Cetera GE, Ercolino C, Miozzo MR, Parazzini F, Ferrazzi EM, Manzotti A, Colaceci S. MYNd&CO (Mindfulness, Yoga, Nutrition, development & Coaching, and Osteopathy) randomized controlled trial for a positive psychophysical experience in pregnancy and after birth: a study protocol. ACTA BIO-MEDICA : ATENEI PARMENSIS 2021; 92:e2021032. [PMID: 34328141 PMCID: PMC8383226 DOI: 10.23750/abm.v92is2.11259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM The medicalisation of birth pathway may negatively impact on women's empowerment, enhancing distress even in cases of healthy pregnancies. We have built a program which is comprised of Mindfulness, Yoga, Nutrition, development & Counselling, Coaching, antenatal classes, and Osteopathic treatment (MYNd&CO). METHODS This study is a randomized controlled trial involving low-risk pregnant women. They will be randomized to the experimental (MYNd&CO intervention plus standard care) or control group (standard care). The primary (general health and wellbeing, maternal distress) and secondary outcome measures (urinary incontinence, sexual problems, and physical wellbeing) will be assessed via questionnaires at baseline and 6 months after childbirth. The independent-samples t-test and Chi-square will be used to detect changes in the outcomes between intervention and control group. DISCUSSION The trial is expected to increase knowledge about the effectiveness of a holistic approach in low-risk pregnant women, in terms of obstetrical and psychophysiological outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niccolò Giovannini
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
| | | | - Carolina Ercolino
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
| | - Monica Rosa Miozzo
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
| | - Fabio Parazzini
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
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38
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Hantsoo L, Zemel BS. Stress gets into the belly: Early life stress and the gut microbiome. Behav Brain Res 2021; 414:113474. [PMID: 34280457 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Research has established that stress "gets under the skin," impacting neuroendocrine and neuroimmune pathways to influence risk for physical and mental health outcomes. These effects can be particularly significant for early life stress (ELS), or adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). In this review, we explore whether stress gets "into the belly," that is, whether psychosocial stress affects the gut microbiome. We review animal and human research utilizing a variety of stress paradigms (acute laboratory stressors, chronic stress, stressful life events, perceived stress, ELS, in utero stress) and their impacts on the gut microbiota, with a particular focus on ELS. We also review data on dietary interventions to moderate impact of stress on the gut microbiome. Our review suggests strong evidence that acute laboratory stress, chronic stress, and ELS affect the gut microbiota in rodents, and growing evidence that perceived stress and ELS may impact the gut microbiota in humans. Emerging data also suggests, particularly in rodents, that dietary interventions such as omega-3 fatty acids and pre- and pro-biotics may buffer against the effects of stress on the gut microbiome, but more research is needed. In sum, growing evidence suggests that stress impacts not only the neuroendocrine and neuroimmune axes, but also the microbiota-gut-brain-axis, providing a pathway by which stress may get "into the belly" to influence health risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liisa Hantsoo
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 550 N. Broadway Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Babette S Zemel
- Roberts Center for Pediatric Research, 2716 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146, USA
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39
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Marceau K, Wang W, Robertson O, Shirtcliff EA. A systematic review of hair cortisol during pregnancy: Reference ranges and methodological considerations. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 122:104904. [PMID: 33080521 PMCID: PMC8634732 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The present study systematically reviewed 56 articles that assessed hair cortisol concentrations during pregnancy collected from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science on 8/9/19 and updated on 6/29/20. Our goals were to establish reference ranges by trimester based on published studies. The majority of any given sample (e.g., 70 %, the range of -1SD to +1SD) is expected to fall between 0 and 34.15 pg/mg in trimester 1 and 2, and between 8.59 and 44 pg/mg in trimester 3, with very wide ranges (e.g., values of >250 pg/mg) and substantially higher values (e.g., averages of 200's-300's reaching as high as 768 pg/mg) coming out of one specific lab. Delineating a reference range for hair cortisol concentrations across pregnancy is challenging because of known factors like differences in values returned by different laboratories and assay types. We observed inconsistency in descriptions of the data and data preparation steps post-assay. Key findings include that only half of the studies examining all three trimesters showed a constant increase in mean levels (most retrospectively assessed via segmenting), with considerable variability in patterns of change. None of the studies reported individual patterns of change. Examining within-person changes are an important next step for the field. We conclude that researchers should more clearly report decisions around outliers, units, and specifics of data transformations in the future in order to improve our ability to compare findings across studies, to understand differences in HCC values reported, and potentially to understand differences in reported associations of HCC with other phenotypes in the literature.
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