Abstract: During early days of life, humans are colonized by commensal microbiome on skin, mucosa, stomach, lungs, large and small intestine, etc. Evidences show that host-microbes interactions are complex involves cell-cell communication and communication with organs like brain. The differential epigenetic regulation of microbiome-gut-brain axis is associated with alteration in human health and
... [Show full abstract] diseases, ranging from stress linked disorders- depression, anxiety and irritable bowel disease to neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and there by regulating human brain and behaviour. However, the differential epigenetic regulation in host–microbe interactions is poorly studied. There are many plausible routes of interaction between epigenetic mechanisms and the host-microbiota crosstalk. From this point of view, we propose hypothesis that gut-microbiome metabolites can affect host's gene regulations in brain which results in differential neuronal transcription and altered host behaviour.
Here, we discuss recent key findings which suggest that microbiome is important in normal brain functions. We also talk about the association between stress and microbiome as well as how alterations in microbiome influence stress-related behaviours. Recent studies show that pro-biotic and pathogenic bacteria in gastrointestinal tract can activate neural signaling pathways. Clinical studies elucidating the microbiome–gut–brain axis may provide novel approaches for prevention and treatment of various human diseases including anxiety, depression, autism, metabolic disorders and neurodegenerative disorders.
Key words: Epigenetics, gut-brain axis, microbiome, probiotics, cognition.