Microbiota-gut-brain axis: a new target for toxicity of environmental pollutants

Abstract

Exposures to environmental pollutants such as organic pollutants, antibiotics, heavy metals, pesticides are known to cause many forms of neurological disease, but the exact mechanisms involved have not been fully elucidated. The gut-brain axis represents a complex network of pathways connecting the gut and brain. As a primary mediator linking gut and brain, gut microbiota is sensitive to various pollutants in the environment and can serve as a target for neurotoxicity of environmental pollutants, modulating immune responses and substance metabolism or directly affecting neuronal and neural signaling to mediate the interference of pollutants with the processes of the brain inflammatory response, neurotransmitter secretion, endogenous antioxidant defense system function, blood-brain barrier integrity, and the regulation of mitochondrial function. Herein, we briefly discuss the mechanisms of gut brain interaction and the findings that environmental pollutants mediate the development and function of the exposed individuals′ nervous system through the microbiota-gut-brain axis. We expect to provide future insights into the unraveling of deep relationship between environmental pollutants, gut microbiota and human health and put forward a reference for the search of therapeutic approaches on related neurological diseases.

Keywords

• gut microbiota
• gut-brain axis
• environmental pollutant
• neurotoxicity